Chapter 9

  And Job answered and said,  

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  Of a truth I know it is so; but how can man be just with ùGod?  

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  If he shall choose to strive with him, he cannot answer him one thing of a thousand.  

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

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  Who removeth mountains, and they know it not, when he overturneth them in his anger;  

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  Who shaketh the earth out of its place, and the pillars thereof tremble;  

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

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

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  Who maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south;  

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

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  Lo, he goeth by me, and I see [him] not; and he passeth along, and I perceive him not.  

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

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  +God withdraweth not his anger; the proud helpers stoop under him:  

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

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

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

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  He, who crusheth me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.  

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  He suffereth me not to take my breath, for he filleth me with bitternesses.  

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  Be it a question of strength, lo, [he is] strong; and be it of judgment, who will set me a time?  

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  If I justified myself, mine own mouth would condemn me; were I perfect, he would prove me perverse.  

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

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  It is all one; therefore I said, he destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.  

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  If the scourge kill suddenly, he mocketh at the trial of the innocent.  

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  The earth is given over into the hand of the wicked [man]; he covereth the faces of its judges. If not, who then is it?  

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  And my days are swifter than a runner: they flee away, they see no good.  

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  They pass by like skiffs of reed; as an eagle that swoops upon the prey.  

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  If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my [sad] countenance, and brighten up,  

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

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  Be it that I am wicked, why then do I labour in vain?  

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  If I washed myself with snow-water, and cleansed my hands in purity,  

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  Then wouldest thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes would abhor me.  

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

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  There is not an umpire between us, who should lay his hand upon us both.  

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  Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his terror make me afraid,  

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

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