Chapter 9

  And Job answered, and said:  

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  Indeed I know it is so, and that man cannot be justified compared with  

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

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  He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath resisted him, and hath had peace ?  

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  Who hath removed mountains, and they whom he overthrew in his wrath, knew it not.  

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  Who shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.  

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  Who commandeth tile sun and it riseth not: and shutteth up the stars as it were under a seal:  

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  Who alone spreadeth out the heavens, and walketh upon the waves of the sea.  

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  Who maketh Arcturus, and Orion, and Hyades, and the inner parts of the south.  

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  Who doth things great and incomprehensible, and wonderful, of which there is no number.  

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  If he come to me, I shall not see him: if he depart I shall not understand.  

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  If he examine on a sudden, who shall answer him? or who can say: Why dost thou so?  

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  God, whose wrath no mall can resist, and under whom they stoop that bear up the world.  

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  What am I then, that I should answer him, and have words with him?  

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  I, who although I should have any just thing, would not answer, but would make supplication to my judge.  

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  And if he should hear me when I call, I should not believe that he had heard my voice.  

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  For he shall crush me in a whirlwind, and multiply my wounds even without cause.  

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  He alloweth not my spirit to rest, and he filleth me with bitterness.  

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  If strength be demanded, he is most strong: if equity of judgment, no man dare bear witness for me.  

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  If I would justify myself, my own mouth shall condemn me: if I would shew myself innocent, he shall prove me wicked.  

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  Although I should be simple, even this my soul shall be ignorant of, and I shall be weary of my life.  

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  One thing there is that I have spoken, both the innocent and the wicked he consumeth.  

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  If he scourge, let him kill at once, and not laugh at the pains of the innocent.  

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  The earth is given into the hand of the wicked, he covereth the face of the judges thereof: and if it be not he, who is it then?  

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  My days have been swifter than a post: they have fled away and have not seen good.  

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  They have passed by as ships carrying fruits, as an eagle flying to the prey.  

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  If I say: I will not speak so: I change my face, and am tormented with sorrow.  

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  I feared all my works, knowing that thou didst not spare the offender.  

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  But if so also I am wicked, why have I laboured in vain?  

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  If I be washed as it were with snow waters, and my hands shall shine ever so clean :  

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  Yet thou shalt plunge me in filth, and my garments shall abhor me,  

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  For I shall not answer a man that is like myself: nor one that may be heard with me equally in judgment.  

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  There is none that may be able to reprove both, and to put his hand between both.  

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  Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me.  

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  I will speak, and will not fear him: for I cannot answer while I am in fear.  

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