Job 9
1 Then
Job answered and
said,
2 I
know it is so of a
truth: but how should
man be
just with
God? 3 If he
will contend with him, he cannot
answer him
one of a
thousand. 4 He is
wise in
heart, and
mighty in
strength: who hath
hardened himself against him, and hath
prospered?
5 Which
removeth the
mountains, and they
know not: which
overturneth them in his
anger. 6 Which
shaketh the
earth out of her
place, and the
pillars thereof
tremble.
7 Which
commandeth the
sun, and it
riseth not; and sealeth
up the
stars. 8 Which alone spreadeth
out the
heavens, and
treadeth upon the
waves of the
sea. 9 Which
maketh Arcturus, Orion, and
Pleiades, and the
chambers of the
south. 10 Which
doeth great
things past finding
out; yea, and
wonders without
number. 11 Lo, he
goeth by me, and I
see him not: he passeth
on also, but I
perceive him not.
12 Behold, he taketh
away, who can
hinder him? who will
say unto him, What
doest thou?
13 If
God will not
withdraw his
anger, the
proud helpers do
stoop under him.
14 How much less shall I
answer him, and choose
out my
words to reason with him?
15 Whom, though I were
righteous, yet would I not
answer, but I would make
supplication to my
judge.
16 If I had
called, and he had
answered me; yet would I not
believe that he had
hearkened unto my
voice. 17 For he
breaketh me with a
tempest, and
multiplieth my
wounds without
cause. 18 He will not
suffer me to
take my
breath, but
filleth me with
bitterness. 19 If I speak of
strength, lo, he is
strong: and if of
judgment, who shall
set me a time to plead?
20 If I
justify myself, mine own
mouth shall
condemn me: if I say, I am
perfect, it shall also prove me
perverse.
21 Though I were
perfect, yet would I not
know my
soul: I would
despise my
life. 22 This is
one thing, therefore I
said it, He
destroyeth the
perfect and the
wicked. 23 If the
scourge slay suddenly, he will
laugh at the
trial of the
innocent. 24 The
earth is
given into the
hand of the
wicked: he
covereth the
faces of the
judges thereof; if not,
where, and who is he?
25 Now my
days are
swifter than a
post: they flee
away, they
see no
good. 26 They are passed
away as the
swift ships: as the
eagle that
hasteth to the
prey. 27 If I
say, I will
forget my
complaint, I will leave
off my
heaviness, and
comfort myself:
28 I am
afraid of all my
sorrows, I
know that thou wilt not hold me
innocent.
29 If I be
wicked, why then
labour I in
vain? 30 If I
wash myself
with snow
water, and make my
hands never so
clean;
31 Yet shalt thou
plunge me in the
ditch, and mine own
clothes shall
abhor me.
32 For he is not a
man, as I am, that I should
answer him, and we should
come together in
judgment. 33 Neither
is there any
daysman betwixt us, that might
lay his
hand upon us
both. 34 Let him
take his
rod away from me, and let not his
fear terrify me:
35 Then would I
speak, and not
fear him; but it is not so with me.