| Chapter 9 |
1 | And Job answered and said,
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2 | Of a truth I know it is so; but how can man be just with łGod?
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3 | If he shall choose to strive with him, he cannot answer him one thing of a thousand.
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4 | He is wise in heart and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and had peace?
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5 | Who removeth mountains, and they know it not, when he overturneth them in his anger;
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6 | Who shaketh the earth out of its place, and the pillars thereof tremble;
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7 | Who commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, and he sealeth up the stars;
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8 | Who alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the high waves of the sea;
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9 | Who maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south;
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10 | Who doeth great things past finding out, and wonders without number.
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11 | Lo, he goeth by me, and I see [him] not; and he passeth along, and I perceive him not.
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12 | Behold, he taketh away: who will hinder him? Who will say unto him, What doest thou?
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13 | +God withdraweth not his anger; the proud helpers stoop under him:
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14 | How much less shall I answer him, choose out my words [to strive] with him?
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15 | Whom, though I were righteous, [yet] would I not answer; I would make supplication to my judge.
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16 | If I had called, and he had answered me, I would not believe that he hearkened to my voice, --
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17 | He, who crusheth me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.
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18 | He suffereth me not to take my breath, for he filleth me with bitternesses.
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19 | Be it a question of strength, lo, [he is] strong; and be it of judgment, who will set me a time?
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20 | If I justified myself, mine own mouth would condemn me; were I perfect, he would prove me perverse.
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21 | Were I perfect, [yet] would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
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22 | It is all one; therefore I said, he destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
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23 | If the scourge kill suddenly, he mocketh at the trial of the innocent.
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24 | The earth is given over into the hand of the wicked [man]; he covereth the faces of its judges. If not, who then is it?
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25 | And my days are swifter than a runner: they flee away, they see no good.
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26 | They pass by like skiffs of reed; as an eagle that swoops upon the prey.
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27 | If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my [sad] countenance, and brighten up,
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28 | I am afraid of all my sorrows; I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
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29 | Be it that I am wicked, why then do I labour in vain?
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30 | If I washed myself with snow-water, and cleansed my hands in purity,
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31 | Then wouldest thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes would abhor me.
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32 | For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him; that we should come together in judgment.
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33 | There is not an umpire between us, who should lay his hand upon us both.
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34 | Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his terror make me afraid,
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35 | [Then] I will speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.
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