Chapter 9

Then Job answered⁴ and said,⁴

I know¹ [it is] so of a truth: but how should man be just⁴ with God?

If he will⁴ contend² with him, he cannot answer⁴ him one of a thousand.

[He is] wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened⁵² [himself] against him, and hath prospered?⁴

Which removeth⁵⁶ the mountains, and they know¹ not: which overturneth¹ them in his anger.

Which shaketh⁵⁶ the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.¹⁰¹

Which commandeth⁶ the sun, and it riseth⁴ not; and sealeth up⁴ the stars.

Which alone spreadeth out⁶ the heavens, and treadeth⁶ upon the waves of the sea.

Which maketh⁶ Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.

Which doeth⁶ great things past finding out; yea, and wonders¹² without number.

Lo, he goeth⁴ by me, and I see⁴ [him] not: he passeth on⁴ also, but I perceive⁴ him not.

Behold, he taketh away,⁴ who can hinder⁵⁵ him? who will say⁴ unto him, What doest⁴ thou?

[If] God will not withdraw⁵⁵ his anger, the proud helpers⁶ do stoop¹ under him.

How much less shall I answer⁴ him, [and] choose⁴ out my words [to reason] with him?

Whom, though I were righteous,¹ [yet] would I not answer,⁴ [but] I would make supplication¹⁰¹ to my judge.²⁶

If I had called,¹ and he had answered⁴ me; [yet] would I not believe⁵⁵ that he had hearkened⁵⁵ unto my voice.

For he breaketh⁴ me with a tempest, and multiplieth⁵² my wounds without cause.

He will not suffer⁴ me to take⁵³ my breath, but filleth⁵⁵ me with bitterness.

If [I speak] of strength, lo, [he is] strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time⁵⁵ [to plead]?

If I justify⁴ myself, mine own mouth shall condemn⁵⁵ me: [if I say], I [am] perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.⁴

[Though] I [were] perfect, [yet] would I not know⁴ my soul: I would despise⁴ my life.

This [is] one [thing], therefore I said¹ [it], He destroyeth¹⁸ the perfect and the wicked.

If the scourge slay⁵⁵ suddenly, he will laugh⁴ at the trial of the innocent.

The earth is given⁸ into the hand of the wicked: he covereth¹⁷ the faces of the judges⁶ thereof; if not, where, [and] who [is] he?

Now my days are swifter¹ than a post:⁵ they flee away,¹ they see¹ no good.

They are passed away¹ as the swift ¹⁵ ships: as the eagle [that] hasteth⁴ to the prey.

If I say,² I will forget⁴ my complaint, I will leave off⁴ my heaviness, and comfort⁵⁵ [myself]:

I am afraid¹ of all my sorrows, I know¹ that thou wilt not hold me innocent.¹⁷

[If] I be wicked,⁴ why then labour⁴ I in vain?

If I wash⁹⁸ myself with snow water, ¹¹¹⁹ and make my hands never so clean;⁵²

Yet shalt thou plunge⁴ me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor¹⁴ me.

For [he is] not a man, as I [am, that] I should answer⁴ him, [and] we should come⁴ together in judgment.

Neither is there any daysman⁵⁶ betwixt us, [that] might lay⁴ his hand upon us both.

Let him take his rod away⁵⁵ from me, and let not his fear terrify¹⁷ me:

[Then] would I speak,¹⁷ and not fear⁴ him; but [it is] not so with me.