| Chapter 9 |
1 | And Job made answer and said,
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2 | Truly, I see that it is so: and how is it possible for a man to get his right before God?
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3 | If a man was desiring to go to law with him, he would not be able to give him an answer to one out of a thousand questions.
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4 | He is wise in heart and great in strength: who ever made his face hard against him, and any good came of it?
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5 | It is he who takes away the mountains without their knowledge, overturning them in his wrath:
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6 | Who is moving the earth out of its place, so that its pillars are shaking:
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7 | Who gives orders to the sun, and it does not give its light; and who keeps the stars from shining.
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8 | By whose hand the heavens were stretched out, and who is walking on the waves of the sea:
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9 | Who made the Bear and Orion, and the Pleiades, and the store-houses of the south:
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10 | Who does great things not to be searched out; yes, wonders without number.
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11 | See, he goes past me and I see him not: he goes on before, but I have no knowledge of him.
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12 | If he puts out his hand to take, by whom may it be turned back? who may say to him, What are you doing?
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13 | God's wrath may not be turned back; the helpers of Rahab were bent down under him.
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14 | How much less may I give an answer to him, using the right words in argument with him?
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15 | Even if my cause was good, I would not be able to give an answer; I would make request for grace from him who was against me.
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16 | If I had sent for him to be present, and he had come, I would have no faith that he would give ear to my voice.
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17 | For I would be crushed by his storm, my wounds would be increased without cause.
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18 | He would not let me take my breath, but I would be full of bitter grief.
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19 | If it is a question of strength, he says, Here I am! and if it is a question of a cause at law, he says, Who will give me a fixed day?
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20 | Though I was in the right, he would say that I was in the wrong; I have done no evil; but he says that I am a sinner.
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21 | I have done no wrong; I give no thought to what becomes of me; I have no desire for life.
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22 | It is all the same to me; so I say, He puts an end to the sinner and to him who has done no wrong together.
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23 | If death comes suddenly through disease, he makes sport of the fate of those who have done no wrong.
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24 | The land is given into the power of the evil-doer; the faces of its judges are covered; if not by him, then who has done it?
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25 | My days go quicker than a post-runner: they go in flight, they see no good.
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26 | They go rushing on like reed-boats, like an eagle dropping suddenly on its food.
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27 | If I say, I will put my grief out of mind, I will let my face be sad no longer and I will be bright;
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28 | I go in fear of all my pains; I am certain that I will not be free from sin in your eyes.
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29 | You will not let me be clear of sin! why then do I take trouble for nothing?
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30 | If I am washed with snow water, and make my hands clean with soap;
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31 | Then you will have me pushed into the dust, so that I will seem disgusting to my very clothing.
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32 | For he is not a man as I am, that I might give him an answer, that we might come together before a judge.
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33 | There is no one to give a decision between us, who might have control over us.
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34 | Let him take away his rod from me and not send his fear on me:
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35 | Then I would say what is in my mind without fear of him; for there is no cause of fear in myself.
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