Job 9
1And Job, responding, said:
2Truly, I know that it is so, and that man cannot be justified compared with God.
3If he chooses to contend with him, he is not able to respond to him once out of a thousand times.
4He is understanding in heart and mighty in strength; who has resisted him and yet had peace?
5He has moved mountains, and those whom he overthrew in his fury did not know it.
6He shakes the earth out of its place and its pillars tremble.
7He commands the sun and it does not rise, and he closes the stars as if under a seal.
8He alone extends the heavens, and he walks upon the waves of the sea.
9He fashions Arcturus, and Orion, and Hyades, and the interior of the south.
10He accomplishes great and incomprehensible and miraculous things, which cannot be numbered.
11If he approaches me, I will not see him; if he departs, I will not understand.
12If he suddenly should question, who will answer him? Or who can say, “Why did you do so?”
13God, whose wrath no one is able to resist, and under whom they bend who carry the world,
14what am I then, that I should answer him and exchange words with him?
15And if I now have any justice, I will not respond, but will beseech my judge.
16And if he should listen to me when I call, I would not believe that he had heard my voice.
17For he will crush me in a whirlwind and multiply my wounds, even without cause.
18He does not permit my spirit to rest, and he fills me with bitterness.
19If strength is sought, he is most strong; if equity in judgment, no one would dare to give testimony for me.
20If I wanted to justify myself, my own mouth will condemn me; if I would reveal my innocence, he would prove me depraved.
21And if I now became simple, my soul would be ignorant even of this, and my life would weary me.
22There is one thing that I have said: both the innocent and the impious he consumes.
23If he scourges, let him kill all at once, and not laugh at the punishment of the innocent.
24Since the earth has been given into the hand of the impious, he covers the face of its judges; for if it is not him, then who is it?
25My days have been swifter than a messenger; they have fled and have not seen goodness.
26They have passed by like ships carrying fruits, just like an eagle flying to food.
27If I say: “By no means will I speak this way.” I change my face and I am tortured with sorrow.
28I have dreaded all my works, knowing that you did not spare the offender.
29Yet, if I am also just as impious, why have I labored in vain?
30If I had been washed with snow-like waters, and my hands were shining like the cleanest thing,
31yet you would plunge me in filth, and my own garments would abhor me.
32For even I would not answer a man who were like myself, nor one who could be heard with me equally in judgment.
33There is no one who could both prevail in argument and in placing his hand between the two.
34Let him take his staff away from me, and let not the fear of him terrify me.
35I will speak and I will not fear him, for in fearfulness I am not able to respond.
1Then Job answered and said,
2I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?
3If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.
4He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?
5Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.
6Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.
7Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.
8Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.
9Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.
10Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.
11Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.
12Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?
13If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.
14How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?
15Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.
16If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.
17For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.
18He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.
19If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?
20If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.
21Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
22This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
23If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.
24The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?
25Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.
26They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.
27If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:
28I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
29If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?
30If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;
31Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.
32For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.
33Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.
34Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:
35Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.