Job 9

1Then Job answered and said,

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

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

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

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

6Which 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

15Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I 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.

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

18He will not suffer me to take my breath, but 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?

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

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

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

23If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial 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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.footnote j

Job: How Can I Contend with God?

1Then Job answered:

2“Yes, I know that it is so,but how can a mortal be righteous before God? 3If one wished to contend with God,footnote ahe could not answer Him one time out of a thousand. 4God is wise in heart and mighty in strength.Who has resisted Him and prospered? 5He moves mountains without their knowledgeand overturns them in His anger. 6He shakes the earth from its place,so that its foundations tremble. 7He commands the sun not to shine;footnote bHe seals off the stars. 8He alone stretches out the heavensand treads on the waves of the sea. 9He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion,of the Pleiades and the constellations of the south. 10He does great things beyond searching out,and wonders without number. 11Were He to pass by me, I would not see Him;were He to move, I would not recognize Him. 12If He takes away,footnote cwho can stop Him?Who dares to ask Him, ‘What are You doing?’ 13God does not restrain His anger;the helpers of Rahab cower beneath Him.

14How then can I answer Himor choose my arguments against Him? 15For even if I were right, I could not answer.I could only beg my Judge for mercy. 16If I summoned Him and He answered me,I do not believe He would listen to my voice. 17For He would crush me with a tempestand multiply my wounds without cause. 18He does not let me catch my breath,but overwhelms me with bitterness. 19If it is a matter of strength,He is indeed mighty!If it is a matter of justice,who can summon Himfootnote d? 20Even if I were righteous, my mouth would condemn me;if I were blameless, it would declare me guilty.footnote e

21Though I am blameless, I have no concern for myself;I despise my own life. 22It is all the same, and so I say,‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’ 23When the scourge brings sudden death,He mocks the despair of the innocent. 24The earth is given into the hand of the wicked;He blindfolds its judges.If it is not He, then who is it?

25My days are swifter than a runner;they flee without seeing good. 26They sweep by like boats of papyrus,like an eagle swooping down on its prey. 27If I were to say, ‘I will forget my complaintand change my expression and smile,’ 28I would still dread all my sufferings;I know that You will not acquit me. 29Since I am already found guilty,why should I labor in vain? 30If I should wash myself with snowfootnote fand cleanse my hands with lye, 31then You would plunge me into the pit,and even my own clothes would despise me.

32For He is not a man like me, that I can answer Him,that we can take each other to court. 33Nor is there a mediator between us,to lay his hand upon us both. 34Let Him remove His rod from me,so that His terror will no longer frighten me. 35Then I would speak without fear of Him.But as it is, I am on my own.