Chapter 9

  And Job made answer and said,  

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  Truly, I see that it is so: and how is it possible for a man to get his right before God?  

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  If a man was desiring to go to law with him, he would not be able to give him an answer to one out of a thousand questions.  

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  He is wise in heart and great in strength: who ever made his face hard against him, and any good came of it?  

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  It is he who takes away the mountains without their knowledge, overturning them in his wrath:  

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  Who is moving the earth out of its place, so that its pillars are shaking:  

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  Who gives orders to the sun, and it does not give its light; and who keeps the stars from shining.  

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  By whose hand the heavens were stretched out, and who is walking on the waves of the sea:  

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  Who made the Bear and Orion, and the Pleiades, and the store-houses of the south:  

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  Who does great things not to be searched out; yes, wonders without number.  

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  See, he goes past me and I see him not: he goes on before, but I have no knowledge of him.  

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  If he puts out his hand to take, by whom may it be turned back? who may say to him, What are you doing?  

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  God's wrath may not be turned back; the helpers of Rahab were bent down under him.  

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  How much less may I give an answer to him, using the right words in argument with him?  

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  Even if my cause was good, I would not be able to give an answer; I would make request for grace from him who was against me.  

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  If I had sent for him to be present, and he had come, I would have no faith that he would give ear to my voice.  

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  For I would be crushed by his storm, my wounds would be increased without cause.  

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  He would not let me take my breath, but I would be full of bitter grief.  

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  If it is a question of strength, he says, Here I am! and if it is a question of a cause at law, he says, Who will give me a fixed day?  

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  Though I was in the right, he would say that I was in the wrong; I have done no evil; but he says that I am a sinner.  

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  I have done no wrong; I give no thought to what becomes of me; I have no desire for life.  

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  It is all the same to me; so I say, He puts an end to the sinner and to him who has done no wrong together.  

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  If death comes suddenly through disease, he makes sport of the fate of those who have done no wrong.  

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  The land is given into the power of the evil-doer; the faces of its judges are covered; if not by him, then who has done it?  

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  My days go quicker than a post-runner: they go in flight, they see no good.  

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  They go rushing on like reed-boats, like an eagle dropping suddenly on its food.  

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  If I say, I will put my grief out of mind, I will let my face be sad no longer and I will be bright;  

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  I go in fear of all my pains; I am certain that I will not be free from sin in your eyes.  

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  You will not let me be clear of sin! why then do I take trouble for nothing?  

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  If I am washed with snow water, and make my hands clean with soap;  

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  Then you will have me pushed into the dust, so that I will seem disgusting to my very clothing.  

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  For he is not a man as I am, that I might give him an answer, that we might come together before a judge.  

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  There is no one to give a decision between us, who might have control over us.  

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  Let him take away his rod from me and not send his fear on me:  

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  Then I would say what is in my mind without fear of him; for there is no cause of fear in myself.  

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