9:1 Then Job answered, |
9:2 "In truth I know that this is so; But how can a man be in the right before God? |
9:3 "If one wished to dispute with Him, He could not answer Him once in a thousand {times.} |
9:4 "Wise in heart and mighty in strength, Who has defied Him without harm? |
9:5 "{It is God} who removes the mountains, they know not {how,} When He overturns them in His anger; |
9:6 Who shakes the earth out of its place, And its pillars tremble; |
9:7 Who commands the sun not to shine, And sets a seal upon the stars; |
9:8 Who alone stretches out the heavens And tramples down the waves of the sea; |
9:9 Who makes the Bear, Orion and the Pleiades, And the chambers of the south; |
9:10 Who does great things, unfathomable, And wondrous works without number. |
9:11 "Were He to pass by me, I would not see Him; Were He to move past {me,} I would not perceive Him. |
9:12 "Were He to snatch away, who could restrain Him? Who could say to Him, `What are You doing?' |
9:13 "God will not turn back His anger; Beneath Him crouch the helpers of Rahab. |
9:14 "How then can I answer Him, {And} choose my words before Him? |
9:15 "For though I were right, I could not answer; I would have to implore the mercy of my judge. |
9:16 "If I called and He answered me, I could not believe that He was listening to my voice. |
9:17 "For He bruises me with a tempest And multiplies my wounds without cause. |
9:18 "He will not allow me to get my breath, But saturates me with bitterness. |
9:19 "If {it is a matter} of power, behold, {He is} the strong one! And if {it is a matter} of justice, who can summon Him? |
9:20 "Though I am righteous, my mouth will condemn me; Though I am guiltless, He will declare me guilty. |
9:21 "I am guiltless; I do not take notice of myself; I despise my life. |
9:22 "It is {all} one; therefore I say, `He destroys the guiltless and the wicked.' |
9:23 "If the scourge kills suddenly, He mocks the despair of the innocent. |
9:24 "The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He covers the faces of its judges. If {it is} not {He,} then who is it? |
9:25 "Now my days are swifter than a runner; They flee away, they see no good. |
9:26 "They slip by like reed boats, Like an eagle that swoops on its prey. |
9:27 "Though I say, `I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my {sad} countenance and be cheerful,' |
9:28 I am afraid of all my pains, I know that You will not acquit me. |
9:29 "I am accounted wicked, Why then should I toil in vain? |
9:30 "If I should wash myself with snow And cleanse my hands with lye, |
9:31 Yet You would plunge me into the pit, And my own clothes would abhor me. |
9:32 "For {He is} not a man as I am that I may answer Him, That we may go to court together. |
9:33 "There is no umpire between us, Who may lay his hand upon us both. |
9:34 "Let Him remove His rod from me, And let not dread of Him terrify me. |
9:35 "{Then} I would speak and not fear Him; But I am not like that in myself. |