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The Book of Job, Chapter 9
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1 |
Then Job answered and said,
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I know it is so of a truth: buthow should man be just with God?
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If he will contend with him, he
cannot answer him one of a thousand.
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He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened
himself against him, and hath prospered?
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Which removeth the
mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.
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Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof
tremble.
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Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the
stars.
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Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves
of the sea.
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Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of
the south.
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Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders
without number.
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Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I
perceive him not.
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Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto
him, What doest thou?
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If God will not withdraw his anger, the
proud helpers do stoop under him.
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How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to
reason with him?
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Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not
answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.
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If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe
that he had hearkened unto my voice.
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For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds
without cause.
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He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with
bitterness.
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If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who
shall set me a time to plead?
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If I justify myself, mine own
mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me
perverse.
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Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would
despise my life.
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This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect
and the wicked.
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If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the
innocent.
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The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the
faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?
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Now
my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.
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They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that
hasteth to the prey.
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If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my
heaviness, and comfort myself:
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I am afraid of all my sorrows, I
know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
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If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?
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If I wash myselfwith snow water, and make my hands never so clean;
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Yet shalt thou
plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.
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For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we
should come together in judgment.
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Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand
upon us both.
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Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify
me:
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Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with
me.
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