Job 9

1Then Job answered and said,

1And Job answered, and said:

2I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?

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

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

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

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

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

5Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.

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

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

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

7Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.

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

8Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.

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

9Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.

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

10Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.

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

11Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.

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

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

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

13If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.

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

14How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?

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

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

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

16If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.

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

17For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.

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

18He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.

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

19If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?

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

20If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.

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

21Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.

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

22This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

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

23If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.

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

24The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?

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?

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

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

26They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.

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

27If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:

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

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

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

29If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?

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

30If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;

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

31Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.

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

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

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

33Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.

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

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

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