Chapter 9

  Then Job answered and said,  

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

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

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

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

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

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  Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.  

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

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

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

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

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

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  [If] God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.  

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

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  Whom, though I were righteous, [yet] would I not answer, [but] I would make supplication to my judge.  

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  If I had called, and he had answered me; [yet] would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.  

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

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  He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.  

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  If [I speak] of strength, lo, [he is] strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time [to plead]?  

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

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

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

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  If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.  

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  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?  

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

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  They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle [that] hasteth to the prey.  

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

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

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  [If] I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?  

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

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

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

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  Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, [that] might lay his hand upon us both.  

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

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  [Then] would I speak, and not fear him; but [it is] not so with me.  

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