| Chapter 9 |
1 |
Then Job answered, |
2 |
"Truly I know that it is so, But how can man be just with God? |
3 |
If he is pleased to contend with him, He can`t answer him one time in a thousand. |
4 |
God who is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: Who has hardened himself against him, and prospered? |
5 |
Who removes the mountains, and they don`t know it, When he overturns them in his anger |
6 |
Who shakes the earth out of its place; The pillars of it tremble; |
7 |
Who commands the sun, and it doesn`t rise, And seals up the stars; |
8 |
Who alone stretches out the heavens, Treads on the waves of the sea; |
9 |
Who makes the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the chambers of the south; |
10 |
Who does great things past finding out, Yes, marvelous things without number. |
11 |
Behold, he goes by me, and I don`t see him. He passes on also, but I don`t perceive him. |
12 |
Behold, he snatches away; who can hinder him? Who will ask him, `What are you doing?` |
13 |
"God will not withdraw his anger; The helpers of Rahab stoop under him. |
14 |
How much less shall I answer him, Choose my words to argue with him? |
15 |
Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer. I would make supplication to my judge. |
16 |
If I had called, and he had answered me, Yet would I not believe that he listened to my voice. |
17 |
For he breaks me with a tempest, Multiplies my wounds without cause. |
18 |
He will not allow me to take my breath, But fills me with bitterness. |
19 |
If it is a matter of strength, behold, he is mighty! If of justice, `Who,` says he, `will summon me?` |
20 |
Though I am righteous, my own mouth shall condemn me. Though I am blameless, it shall prove me perverse. |
21 |
I am blameless. I don`t regard myself. I despise my life. |
22 |
"It is all the same. Therefore I say, He destroys the blameless and the wicked. |
23 |
If the scourge kills suddenly, He will mock at the trial of the innocent. |
24 |
The earth is given into the hand of the wicked. He covers the faces of the judges of it. If not he, then who is it? |
25 |
"Now my days are swifter than a runner. They flee away, they see no good, |
26 |
They have passed away as the swift ships, As the eagle that swoops on the prey. |
27 |
If I say, `I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad face, and cheer up;` |
28 |
I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that you will not hold me innocent. |
29 |
I shall be condemned; Why then do I labor in vain? |
30 |
If I wash myself with snow, And cleanse my hands with lye, |
31 |
Yet you will plunge me in the ditch. My own clothes shall abhor me. |
32 |
For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, That we should come together in judgment. |
33 |
There is no umpire between us, That might lay his hand on us both. |
34 |
Let him take his rod away from me, Let his terror not make me afraid: |
35 |
Then I would speak, and not fear him, For I am not so in myself. |