Job 9

1And Job answered and said,

1And Job answereth and saith: --

2Of a truth I know it is so; but how can man be just withGod?

2Truly I have known that <FI>it is<Fi> so, And what--is man righteous with God?

3If he shall choose to strive with him, he cannot answer him one thing of a thousand.

3If he delight to strive with Him--He doth not answer him one of a thousand.

4He is wise in heart and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and had peace?

4Wise in heart and strong in power--Who hath hardened toward Him and is at peace?

5Who removeth mountains, and they know it not, when he overturneth them in his anger;

5Who is removing mountains, And they have not known, Who hath overturned them in His anger.

6Who shaketh the earth out of its place, and the pillars thereof tremble;

6Who is shaking earth from its place, And its pillars move themselves.

7Who commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, and he sealeth up the stars;

7Who is speaking to the sun, and it riseth not, And the stars He sealeth up.

8Who alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the high waves of the sea;

8Stretching out the heavens by Himself, And treading on the heights of the sea,

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

9Making Osh, Kesil, and Kimah, And the inner chambers of the south.

10Who doeth great things past finding out, and wonders without number.

10Doing great things till there is no searching, And wonderful, till there is no numbering.

11Lo, he goeth by me, and I see [him] not; and he passeth along, and I perceive him not.

11Lo, He goeth over by me, and I see not, And He passeth on, and I attend not to it.

12Behold, he taketh away: who will hinder him? Who will say unto him, What doest thou?

12Lo, He snatches away, who bringeth it back? Who saith unto Him, `What dost Thou?'

13God withdraweth not his anger; the proud helpers stoop under him:

13God doth not turn back His anger, Under Him bowed have proud helpers.

14How much less shall I answer him, choose out my words [to strive] with him?

14How much less do I--I answer Him? Choose out my words with Him?

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

15Whom, though I were righteous, I answer not, For my judgment I make supplication.

16If I had called, and he had answered me, I would not believe that he hearkened to my voice, —

16Though I had called and He answereth me, I do not believe that He giveth ear <FI>to<Fi> my voice.

17He, who crusheth me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.

17Because with a tempest He bruiseth me, And hath multiplied my wounds for nought.

18He suffereth me not to take my breath, for he filleth me with bitternesses.

18He permitteth me not to refresh my spirit, But filleth me with bitter things.

19Be it a question of strength, lo, [he is] strong; and be it of judgment, who will set me a time?

19If of power, lo, the Strong One; And if of judgment--who doth convene me?

20If I justified myself, mine own mouth would condemn me; were I perfect, he would prove me perverse.

20If I be righteous, Mine mouth doth declare me wicked, Perfect I am! --it declareth me perverse.

21Were I perfect, [yet] would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.

21Perfect I am! --I know not my soul, I despise my life.

22It is all one; therefore I said, he destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

22It is the same thing, therefore I said, `The perfect and the wicked He is consuming.'

23If the scourge kill suddenly, he mocketh at the trial of the innocent.

23If a scourge doth put to death suddenly, At the trial of the innocent He laugheth.

24The earth is given over into the hand of the wicked [man]; he covereth the faces of its judges. If not, who then is it?

24Earth hath been given Into the hand of the wicked one. The face of its judges he covereth, If not--where, who <FI>is<Fi> he?

25And my days are swifter than a runner: they flee away, they see no good.

25My days have been swifter than a runner, They have fled, they have not seen good,

26They pass by like skiffs of reed; as an eagle that swoops upon the prey.

26They have passed on with ships of reed, As an eagle darteth on food.

27If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my [sad] countenance, and brighten up,

27Though I say, `I forget my talking, I forsake my corner, and I brighten up!'

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

28I have been afraid of all my griefs, I have known that Thou dost not acquit me.

29Be it that I am wicked, why then do I labour in vain?

29I--I am become wicked; why <FI>is<Fi> this? <FI>In<Fi> vain I labour.

30If I washed myself with snow-water, and cleansed my hands in purity,

30If I have washed myself with snow-water, And purified with soap my hands,

31Then wouldest thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes would abhor me.

31Then in corruption Thou dost dip me, And my garments have abominated me.

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

32But if a man like myself--I answer him, We come together into judgment.

33There is not an umpire between us, who should lay his hand upon us both.

33If there were between us an umpire, He doth place his hand on us both.

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

34He doth turn aside from off me his rod, And His terror doth not make me afraid,

35[Then] I will speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.

35I speak, and do not fear Him, But I am not right with myself.