| Chapter 9 |
1 | And Job answered and said, |
2 | Of a truth I know it is so; but how can man be just with łGod? |
3 | If he shall choose to strive with him, he cannot answer him one thing of a thousand. |
4 | He is wise in heart and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and had peace? |
5 | Who removeth mountains, and they know it not, when he overturneth them in his anger; |
6 | Who shaketh the earth out of its place, and the pillars thereof tremble; |
7 | Who commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, and he sealeth up the stars; |
8 | Who alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the high waves of the sea; |
9 | Who maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south; |
10 | Who doeth great things past finding out, and wonders without number. |
11 | Lo, he goeth by me, and I see [him] not; and he passeth along, and I perceive him not. |
12 | Behold, he taketh away: who will hinder him? Who will say unto him, What doest thou? |
13 | +God withdraweth not his anger; the proud helpers stoop under him: |
14 | How much less shall I answer him, choose out my words [to strive] 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, I would not believe that he hearkened to my voice, -- |
17 | He, who crusheth me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause. |
18 | He suffereth me not to take my breath, for he filleth me with bitternesses. |
19 | Be it a question of strength, lo, [he is] strong; and be it of judgment, who will set me a time? |
20 | If I justified myself, mine own mouth would condemn me; were I perfect, he would prove me perverse. |
21 | Were I perfect, [yet] would I not know my soul: I would despise my life. |
22 | It is all one; therefore I said, he destroyeth the perfect and the wicked. |
23 | If the scourge kill suddenly, he mocketh at the trial of the innocent. |
24 | The earth is given over into the hand of the wicked [man]; he covereth the faces of its judges. If not, who then is it? |
25 | And my days are swifter than a runner: they flee away, they see no good. |
26 | They pass by like skiffs of reed; as an eagle that swoops upon the prey. |
27 | If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my [sad] countenance, and brighten up, |
28 | I am afraid of all my sorrows; I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent. |
29 | Be it that I am wicked, why then do I labour in vain? |
30 | If I washed myself with snow-water, and cleansed my hands in purity, |
31 | Then wouldest thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes would 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 not an umpire between us, who should lay his hand upon us both. |
34 | Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his terror make me afraid, |
35 | [Then] I will speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me. |