9:1  And Job answered and said,

9:2  Of a truth I know it is so; but how can man be just with ùGod?

9:3  If he shall choose to strive with him, he cannot answer him one thing of a thousand.

9:4  He is wise in heart and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and had peace?

9:5  Who removeth mountains, and they know it not, when he overturneth them in his anger;

9:6  Who shaketh the earth out of its place, and the pillars thereof tremble;

9:7  Who commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, and he sealeth up the stars;

9:8  Who alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the high waves of the sea;

9:9  Who maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south;

9:10  Who doeth great things past finding out, and wonders without number.

9:11  Lo, he goeth by me, and I see [him] not; and he passeth along, and I perceive him not.

9:12  Behold, he taketh away: who will hinder him? Who will say unto him, What doest thou?

9:13  +God withdraweth not his anger; the proud helpers stoop under him:

9:14  How much less shall I answer him, choose out my words [to strive] with him?

9:15  Whom, though I were righteous, [yet] would I not answer; I would make supplication to my judge.

9:16  If I had called, and he had answered me, I would not believe that he hearkened to my voice, --

9:17  He, who crusheth me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.

9:18  He suffereth me not to take my breath, for he filleth me with bitternesses.

9:19  Be it a question of strength, lo, [he is] strong; and be it of judgment, who will set me a time?

9:20  If I justified myself, mine own mouth would condemn me; were I perfect, he would prove me perverse.

9:21  Were I perfect, [yet] would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.

9:22  It is all one; therefore I said, he destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

9:23  If the scourge kill suddenly, he mocketh at the trial of the innocent.

9:24  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?

9:25  And my days are swifter than a runner: they flee away, they see no good.

9:26  They pass by like skiffs of reed; as an eagle that swoops upon the prey.

9:27  If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my [sad] countenance, and brighten up,

9:28  I am afraid of all my sorrows; I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.

9:29  Be it that I am wicked, why then do I labour in vain?

9:30  If I washed myself with snow-water, and cleansed my hands in purity,

9:31  Then wouldest thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes would abhor me.

9:32  For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him; that we should come together in judgment.

9:33  There is not an umpire between us, who should lay his hand upon us both.

9:34  Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his terror make me afraid,

9:35  [Then] I will speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.