| Chapter 9 |
1 | Then Job answered and said,
|
2 | I know it to be so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?
|
3 | If he will 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 hath prospered?
|
5 | Who removeth the mountains, and they know not: who overturneth them in his anger.
|
6 | Who shaketh the earth out of her place, and its pillars tremble.
|
7 | Who commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.
|
8 | Who alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.
|
9 | Who maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.
|
10 | Who doeth great things past finding out; yes, and wonders 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 taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say to him, What doest thou?
|
13 | If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers 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, but I would make supplication to my judge.
|
16 | If I had called, and he had answered me; yet I would not believe that he had hearkened to 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 I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?
|
20 | If I justify myself, my own mouth will condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, that also will prove me perverse.
|
21 | Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
|
22 | This is one thing, therefore I said it, he destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
|
23 | If the scourge shall slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.
|
24 | The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of its judges; if not, where, and who is he?
|
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 hasteth to the prey.
|
27 | If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:
|
28 | I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
|
29 | If I am wicked, 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 my own clothes shall abhor me.
|
32 | For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.
|
33 | Neither is there any judge between us, that might lay his hand upon us both.
|
34 | Let him take away his rod from me, and let not his fear terrify me:
|
35 | Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.
|