Job 9

1 Then Job answered and said,

2 Of a truth I know that it is so: But how can man be just with God?

3 If he be pleased to contend with him, He cannot answer him one of a thousand.

4  He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: Who hath hardened himself against him, and prospered?-

5  Him that removeth the mountains, and they know it not, When he overturneth them in his anger;

6 That shaketh the earth out of its place, And the pillars thereof tremble;

7 That commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, And sealeth up the stars;

8 That alone stretcheth out the heavens, And treadeth upon the waves of the sea;

9 That maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the chambers of the south;

10 That doeth great things past finding out, Yea, marvellous things without number.

11 Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: He passeth on also, but I perceive him not.

12 Behold, he seizeth the prey, who can hinder him? Who will say unto him, What doest thou?

13 God will not withdraw his anger; The helpers of Rahab do stoop under him.

14 How much less shall I answer him, And choose out my words to reason with him?

15 Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer; I would make supplication to my judge.

16 If I had called, and he had answered me, Yet would I not believe that he hearkened unto my voice.

17 For he breaketh me with a tempest, And multiplieth my wounds without cause.

18 He will not suffer me to take my breath, But filleth me with bitterness.

19 If we speak of strength, lo, he is mighty! And if of justice, Who, saith he, will summon me?

20 Though I be righteous, mine own mouth shall condemn me: Though I be perfect, it shall prove me perverse.

21 I am perfect; I regard not myself; I despise my life.

22 It is all one; therefore I say, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

23 If the scourge slay suddenly, He will mock at the trial of the innocent.

24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He covereth the faces of the judges thereof: If it be not he, who then is it?

25 Now my days are swifter than a post: They flee away, they see no good,

26 They are passed away as the swift ships; As the eagle that swoopeth on the prey.

27 If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad countenance, and be of good cheer;

28 I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.

29 I shall be condemned; Why then do I labor in vain?

30 If I wash myself with snow water, And make my hands never so clean;

31 Yet wilt thou plunge me in the ditch, And mine own clothes shall abhor me.

32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, That we should come together in judgment.

33 There is no umpire betwixt us, That might lay his hand upon us both.

34 Let him take his rod away from me, And let not his terror make me afraid:

35 Then would I speak, and not fear him; For I am not so in myself.

Job 9

1 And Job answered, and said:2 Indeed I know it is so, and that man cannot be justified compared with3 If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one for a thousand.4 He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath resisted him, and hath had peace ?5 Who hath removed mountains, and they whom he overthrew in his wrath, knew it not.6 Who shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.7 Who commandeth tile sun and it riseth not: and shutteth up the stars as it were under a seal:8 Who alone spreadeth out the heavens, and walketh upon the waves of the sea.9 Who maketh Arcturus, and Orion, and Hyades, and the inner parts of the south.10 Who doth things great and incomprehensible, and wonderful, of which there is no number.11 If he come to me, I shall not see him: if he depart I shall not understand.12 If he examine on a sudden, who shall answer him? or who can say: Why dost thou so?13 God, whose wrath no mall can resist, and under whom they stoop that bear up the world.14 What am I then, that I should answer him, and have words with him?15 I, who although I should have any just thing, would not answer, but would make supplication to my judge.16 And if he should hear me when I call, I should not believe that he had heard my voice.17 For he shall crush me in a whirlwind, and multiply my wounds even without cause.18 He alloweth not my spirit to rest, and he filleth me with bitterness.19 If strength be demanded, he is most strong: if equity of judgment, no man dare bear witness for me.20 If I would justify myself, my own mouth shall condemn me: if I would shew myself innocent, he shall prove me wicked.21 Although I should be simple, even this my soul shall be ignorant of, and I shall be weary of my life.22 One thing there is that I have spoken, both the innocent and the wicked he consumeth.23 If he scourge, let him kill at once, and not laugh at the pains of the innocent.24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked, he covereth the face of the judges thereof: and if it be not he, who is it then?25 My days have been swifter than a post: they have fled away and have not seen good.26 They have passed by as ships carrying fruits, as an eagle flying to the prey.27 If I say: I will not speak so: I change my face, and am tormented with sorrow.28 I feared all my works, knowing that thou didst not spare the offender.29 But if so also I am wicked, why have I laboured in vain?30 If I be washed as it were with snow waters, and my hands shall shine ever so clean :31 Yet thou shalt plunge me in filth, and my garments shall abhor me,32 For I shall not answer a man that is like myself: nor one that may be heard with me equally in judgment.33 There is none that may be able to reprove both, and to put his hand between both.34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me.35 I will speak, and will not fear him: for I cannot answer while I am in fear.