9:1 THEN JOB answered and said, |
9:2 Yes, I know it is true. But how can mortal man be right before God? |
9:3 If one should want to contend with Him, he cannot answer one [of His questions] in a thousand. |
9:4 [God] is wise in heart and mighty in strength; who has [ever] hardened himself against Him and prospered {or} even been safe? |
9:5 [God] Who removes the mountains, and they know it not when He overturns them in His anger; |
9:6 Who shakes the earth out of its place, and the pillars of it tremble; |
9:7 Who commands the sun, and it rises not; Who seals up the stars [from view]; |
9:8 Who alone stretches out the heavens and treads upon the waves {and} high places of the sea; |
9:9 Who made [the constellations] the Bear, Orion, and the [loose cluster] Pleiades, and the [vast starry] spaces of the south; |
9:10 Who does great things past finding out, yes, marvelous things without number. |
9:11 Behold, He goes by me, and I see Him not; He passes on also, but I perceive Him not. |
9:12 Behold, He snatches away; who can hinder {or} turn Him back? Who will say to Him, What are You doing? |
9:13 God will not withdraw His anger; the [proud] helpers of Rahab [arrogant monster of the sea] bow under Him. |
9:14 How much less shall I answer Him, choosing out my words to reason with Him |
9:15 Whom, though I were righteous (upright and innocent) yet I could not answer? I must appeal for mercy to my Opponent {and} Judge [for my right]. |
9:16 If I called and He answered me, yet would I not believe that He listened to my voice. |
9:17 For He overwhelms {and} breaks me with a tempest and multiplies my wounds without cause. |
9:18 He will not allow me to catch my breath, but fills me with bitterness. |
9:19 If I speak of strength, behold, He is mighty! And if of justice, Who, says He, will summon Me? |
9:20 Though I am innocent {and} in the right, my own mouth would condemn me; though I am blameless, He would prove me perverse. |
9:21 Though I am blameless, I regard not myself; I despise my life. |
9:22 It is all one; therefore I say, God [does not discriminate, but] destroys the blameless and the wicked. |
9:23 When [His] scourge slays suddenly, He mocks at the calamity {and} trial of the innocent. |
9:24 The earth is given into the hands of the wicked; He covers the faces of its judges [so that they are blinded to justice]. If it is not [God], who then is it [responsible for all this inequality]? |
9:25 Now my days are swifter than a runner; they flee away, they see no good. |
9:26 They are passed away like the swift rowboats made of reeds, or like the eagle that swoops down on the prey. |
9:27 If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad countenance, and be of good cheer {and} brighten up, |
9:28 I become afraid of all my pains {and} sorrows [yet to come], for I know You will not pronounce me innocent [by removing them]. |
9:29 I shall be held guilty {and} be condemned; why then should I labor in vain [to appear innocent]? |
9:30 If I wash myself with snow and cleanse my hands with lye, |
9:31 Yet You will plunge me into the ditch, and my own clothes will abhor me [and refuse to cover so foul a body]. |
9:32 For [God] is not a [mere] man, as I am, that I should answer Him, that we should come together in court. |
9:33 There is no umpire between us, who might lay his hand upon us both, [would that there were!] |
9:34 That He might take His rod away from [threatening] me, and that the fear of Him might not terrify me. |
9:35 [Then] would I speak and not fear Him, but I am not so in myself [to make me afraid, were only a fair trial given me]. |