Job 9:1-35
9 Job said in reply:
2 “For a fact I know that this is so.
But how can mortal man be in the right in a case with God?+
3 If someone wishes to argue with Him,*+That one could not answer one of His questions in a thousand.
4 He is wise in heart and mighty in power.+
Who can resist him and come off uninjured?+
5 He moves* mountains without anyone knowing it;He overturns them in his anger.
6 He shakes the earth out of its place,So that its pillars tremble.+
7 He commands the sun not to shineAnd seals off the light of the stars;+
8 He spreads out the heavens by himself,+And he treads upon the high waves of the sea.+
9 He made the Ash,* the Keʹsil,* and the Kiʹmah constellations,*+And the constellations of the southern sky;*
10 He does great and unsearchable things,+Wonderful things that cannot be counted.+
11 He passes by me, and I cannot see him;He moves past me, but I do not discern him.
12 When he snatches something, who can resist him?
Who can say to him, ‘What are you doing?’+
13 God will not restrain his anger;+Even the helpers of Raʹhab*+ will bow down to him.
14 How much more when I answer himMust I choose my words carefully to argue with him!
15 Even if I were in the right, I would not answer him.+
I could only plead for mercy from my judge.*
16 If I call out to him, will he answer me?
I do not believe that he will listen to my voice,
17 For he crushes me with a stormAnd multiplies my wounds for no reason.+
18 He does not let me catch my breath;He keeps filling me with bitter things.
19 If it is a matter of power, he is the strong one.+
If it is a matter of justice, he says: ‘Who can call me to account?’*
20 If I were in the right, my own mouth would condemn me;Even if I keep my integrity,* he will declare me guilty.*
21 Even if I keep my integrity,* I am not confident about myself;*I reject* this life of mine.
22 It is all the same. That is why I say,‘He destroys the innocent* and the wicked alike.’
23 If a flash flood should cause sudden death,He would mock at the despair of the innocent.
24 The earth has been handed over to the wicked;+He covers the eyes* of its judges.
If it is not he, then, who is it?
25 Now my days are swifter than a runner;+They run away without seeing good.
26 They glide by like reed boats,Like eagles that swoop down on their prey.
27 If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint,I will change my expression and be cheerful,’
28 I would still be afraid because of all my pains,+And I know you would not find me innocent.
29 I would be found guilty.*
So why should I struggle in vain?+
30 If I wash myself in water from melting snow,And I cleanse my hands in lye,*+
31 Then you would dip me in a pit,So that even my own garments would detest me.
32 For he is not a man like me that I may answer him,That we should go to court together.+
33 There is no person to decide* between us,Who could serve as our judge.*
34 If he would stop beating me*And not let his terror frighten me,+
35 Then I would speak to him unafraid,For it is not in me to speak out of fear.
Footnotes
^ Or “to take Him to court.”
^ Or “removes.”
^ Possibly the Great Bear constellation (Ursa Major).
^ Lit., “the interior rooms of the south.”
^ Possibly the Pleiades stars in the Taurus constellation.
^ Possibly the Orion constellation.
^ Possibly a great sea monster.
^ Or possibly, “my opponent at law.”
^ Lit., “summon me?”
^ Or “Even if I am innocent.”
^ Lit., “crooked.”
^ Or “Even if I am innocent.”
^ Or “I do not know my soul.”
^ Or “despise; refuse.”
^ Or “those keeping integrity.”
^ Lit., “faces.”
^ Lit., “wicked.”
^ Or “potash.”
^ Or “no mediator.”
^ Lit., “put his hand upon us both.”
^ Lit., “remove his rod from upon me.”