Job 9

1And Job answered, and said:

1And Job answered and said,

2Indeed I know it is so, and that man cannot be justified, compared with God.

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

3If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one for a thousand.

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

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

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

5Who hath removed mountains, and they whom he overthrew in his wrath, knew it not.

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

6Who shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.

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

7Who commandeth the sun, and it riseth not: and shutteth up the stars, as it were, under a seal:

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

8Who alone spreadeth out the heavens, and walketh upon the waves of the sea.

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

9Who maketh Arcturus, and Orion, and Hyades, and the inner parts of the south.

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

10Who doth things great and incomprehensible, and wonderful, of which there is no number.

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

11If he come to me, I shall not see him: if he depart, I shall not understand.

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

12If he examine on a sudden, who shall answer him? or who can say: Why dost thou so?

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

13God, whose wrath no man can resist, and under whom they stoop that bear up the world.

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

14What am I then, that I should answer him, and have words with him?

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

15I, who although I should have any just thing, would not answer, but would make supplication to my judge.

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

16And if he should hear me when I call, I should not believe that he had heard my voice.

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

17For he shall crush me in a whirlwind, and multiply my wounds even without cause.

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

18He alloweth not my spirit to rest, and he filleth me with bitterness.

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

19If strength be demanded, he is most strong: if equity of judgment, no man dare bear witness for me.

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

20If I would justify myself, my own mouth shall condemn me: if I would shew myself innocent, he shall prove me wicked.

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

21Although I should be simple, even this my soul shall be ignorant of, and I shall be weary of my life.

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

22One thing there is that I have spoken, both the innocent and the wicked he consumeth.

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

23If he scourge, let him kill at once, and not laugh at the pains of the innocent.

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

24The 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?

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?

25My days have been swifter than a post: they have fled away and have not seen good.

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

26They have passed by as ships carrying fruits, as an eagle flying to the prey.

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

27If I say: I will not speak so: I change my face, and am tormented with sorrow.

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

28I feared all my works, knowing that thou didst not spare the offender.

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

29But if so also I am wicked, why have I laboured in vain?

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

30If I be washed, as it were, with snow waters, and my hands shall shine ever so clean:

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

31Yet thou shalt plunge me in filth, and my garments shall abhor me.

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

32For I shall not answer a man that is like myself: nor one that may be heard with me equally in judgment.

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

33There is none that may be able to reprove both, and to put his hand between both.

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

34Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me.

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

35I will speak, and will not fear him: for I cannot answer while I am in fear.

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