Job 9:1-35
9 But Job answered
2 “Certainly, I know it is so,and how is a human being to be in the right with Deity?
3 If he chooses to argue a case with himhe will not answer him one point out of a thousand.
4 Wise in heart and mighty in strength,who has defied him and remained safe and sound?
5 Him who displaces mountains before they know it,as he has overthrown them in his anger;
6 Him who shakes earth loose from its placeand its pillars quiver;
7 Him who says a thing to the sun and it does not break out,and seals off stars;
8 Sole spreader of sky,treader on heights of sea,
9 Maker of Aldebaran, Orion,and the Pleiades and the chambers of the south,
10 Doer of great things inscrutableand wonders innumerable.
11 Here he comes by me and I do not see him,goes past and I do not perceive him—
12 * Here he comes down on me, who will turn him back?who will say to him ‘What are you doing?’
13 God will not turn back his anger;Rahab’s helpers sank under him,
14 Not to speak of such a thing as that I should answer him,choose my words with him,
15 I who if I were in the right would not answer,would beg as a favor for what was my right.
16 If I called and he answered meI would not believe that he would give ear to my voice,
17 He who deals me hurts in a tempestand multiplies my sores for nothing,
18 Does not let me get back my breathbut gives me all the bitter mouthfuls I can hold.
19 * As for stark strength, there it is!but as for judgment, who will set me a date?
20 * If I am in the right my own mouth will put me in the wrong;I am virtuous and he has made a crook of me.
21 * I am virtuous—I do not think of my person—I want nothing of my life—
22 It is all one; therefore I say,he makes a clean sweep of virtuous man and rogue.
23 If a scourge brings sudden deathhe makes fun of innocent men’s despair.
24 ** A country is given into a rogue’s hands;he covers its judges’ faces.If not then, who is it that does?
25 And my days are swifter than a runner,have gone off without seeing anything good,
26 * Have passed like reed boats,like a vulture shooting toward food
27 * If I say I will forget my grievance,will quit my dismalness and brighten up,
28 I quail at all my woes,I know I shall not be acquitted.
29 I am the one to be found guilty—what should I take useless trouble for?
30 If I take a snow bathand clean my hands with alkali,
31 Then he will dip me in a mudholeand my garments will abominate me.
32 For he is not a man like me whom I should answer,we should go into court together;
33 There is no adjudicator between uswho will lay his hands on us both.
34 Let him take his cudgel away from over meand his terror not overwhelm me;
35 I will speak and not be afraid of him,because I am not like that to my knowledge.
Footnotes
^ 9:12 Lit. without the word me
^ 9:19 Lit. a mighty one’s strength
^ 9:20 Or it has made
^ 9:21 Lit. do not know my
^ 9:24 Or Earth is given
^ 9:24 Lit. without the words that does
^ 9:26 Lit. with reed boats
^ 9:27 Lit. quit my face and
