Job 9

1Then Job answered and said,WEBThen Job answered,

2I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?WEB“Truly I know that it is so, but how can man be just with God?

3If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.WEBIf he is pleased to contend with him, he can’t answer him one time in a thousand.

4He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?WEBGod is wise in heart, and mighty in strength. Who has hardened himself against him and prospered?

5Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.WEBHe removes the mountains, and they don’t know it, when he overturns them in his anger.

6Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.WEBHe shakes the earth out of its place. Its pillars tremble.

7Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.WEBHe commands the sun and it doesn’t rise, and seals up the stars.

8Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.WEBHe alone stretches out the heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea.

9Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.WEBHe makes the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the rooms of the south.

10Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.WEBHe does great things past finding out; yes, marvelous things without number.

11Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.WEBBehold, he goes by me, and I don’t see him. He passes on also, but I don’t perceive him.

12Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?WEBBehold, he snatches away. Who can hinder him? Who will ask him, ‘What are you doing?’

13If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.WEB“God will not withdraw his anger. The helpers of Rahab stoop under him.

14How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?WEBHow much less will I answer him, and choose my words to argue with him?

15Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.WEBThough I were righteous, yet I wouldn’t answer him. I would make supplication to my judge.

16If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.WEBIf I had called, and he had answered me, yet I wouldn’t believe that he listened to my voice.

17For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.WEBFor he breaks me with a storm, and multiplies my wounds without cause.

18He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.WEBHe will not allow me to catch my breath, but fills me with bitterness.

19If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?WEBIf it is a matter of strength, behold, he is mighty! If of justice, ‘Who,’ says he, ‘will summon me?’

20If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.WEBThough I am righteous, my own mouth will condemn me. Though I am blameless, it will prove me perverse.

21Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.WEBI am blameless. I don’t respect myself. I despise my life.

22This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.WEB“It is all the same. Therefore I say he destroys the blameless and the wicked.

23If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.WEBIf the scourge kills suddenly, he will mock at the trial of the innocent.

24The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?WEBThe earth is given into the hand of the wicked. He covers the faces of its judges. If not he, then who is it?

25Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.WEB“Now my days are swifter than a runner. They flee away. They see no good.

26They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.WEBThey have passed away as the swift ships, as the eagle that swoops on the prey.

27If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:WEBIf I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad face, and cheer up,’

28I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.WEBI am afraid of all my sorrows. I know that you will not hold me innocent.

29If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?WEBI will be condemned. Why then do I labor in vain?

30If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;WEBIf I wash myself with snow, and cleanse my hands with lye,

31Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.WEByet you will plunge me in the ditch. My own clothes will abhor me.

32For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.WEBFor he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, that we should come together in judgment.

33Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.WEBThere is no umpire between us, that might lay his hand on us both.

34Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:WEBLet him take his rod away from me. Let his terror not make me afraid;

35Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.WEBthen I would speak, and not fear him, for I am not so in myself.