Job 9

1And Job answered, and said:

1And Job answereth and saith: --

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

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

3If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one for 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 resisted him, and hath had peace?

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

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

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

6Who shaketh the earth out of her 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 shutteth up the stars, as it were, under a seal:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

14How much less do I--I answer Him? Choose out my words 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, I answer not, For my judgment I make supplication.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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