Chapter 9

  Then Job answered and said,  

-

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

-

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

-

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

-

  Who removeth the mountains, and they know not: who overturneth them in his anger.  

-

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

-

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

-

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

-

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

-

  Who doeth great things past finding out; yes, and wonders without number.  

-

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

-

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

-

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

-

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

-

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

-

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

-

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

-

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

-

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

-

  If I justify myself, my own mouth will condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, that also will prove me perverse.  

-

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

-

  This is one thing, therefore I said it, he destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.  

-

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

-

  The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of its judges; if not, where, and who is he?  

-

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

-

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

-

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

-

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

-

  If I am wicked, why then do I labor in vain?  

-

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

-

  Yet wilt thou plunge me in the ditch, and my own clothes shall abhor me.  

-

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

-

  Neither is there any judge between us, that might lay his hand upon us both.  

-

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

-

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

-