Job 9

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Then Job answered and said:	1 Job spoke next. He said:
2 I know well that it is so; but how can a man be justified before God?	2 Indeed, I know it is as you say: how could anyone claim to be upright before God?
3 Should one wish to contend with him, he could not answer him once in a thousand times.	3 Anyone trying to argue matters with him, could not give him one answer in a thousand.
4 God is wise in heart and mighty in strength; who has withstood him and remained unscathed?	4 Among the wisest and the hardiest, who then can successful y defy him?
5 He removes the mountains before they know it; he overturns them in his anger.	5 He moves the mountains, though they do not know it; he throws them down when he is angry.
6 He shakes the earth out of its place, and the pillars beneath it tremble.	6 He shakes the earth, and moves it from its place, making al its pil ars tremble.
7 He commands the sun, and it rises not; he seals up the stars.	7 The sun, at his command, forbears to rise, and on the stars he sets a seal.
8 He alone stretches out the heavens and treads upon the crests of the sea.	8 He and no other has stretched out the heavens and trampled on the back of the Sea.
9 He made the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south;	9 He has made the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the Mansions of the South.
10 He does great things past finding out, marvelous things beyond reckoning.	10 The works he does are great and unfathomable, and his marvels cannot be counted.
11 Should he come near me, I see him not; should he pass by, I am not aware of him;	11 If he passes me, I do not see him; he slips by, imperceptible to me.
12 Should he seize me forcibly, who can say him nay? Who can say to him, "What are you doing?"	12 If he snatches his prey, who is going to stop him or dare to ask, 'What are you doing?'
13 He is God and he does not relent; the helpers of Rahab bow beneath him.	13 God does not renounce his anger: beneath him, Rahab's minions stil lie prostrate.
14 How much less shall I give him any answer, or choose out arguments against him!	14 And here am I, proposing to defend myself and select my arguments against him!
15 Even though I were right, I could not answer him, but should rather beg for what was due me.	15 Even if I am upright, what point is there in answering him? I can only plead for mercy with my judge!
16 If I appealed to him and he answered my call, I could not believe that he would hearken to my words;	16 And if he deigned to answer my citation, I cannot believe he would listen to what I said,
17 With a tempest he might overwhelm me, and multiply my wounds without cause;	17 he who crushes me for one hair, who, for no reason, wounds and wounds again,
18 He need not suffer me to draw breath, but might fill me with bitter griefs.	18 not even letting me regain my breath, with so much bitterness he fills me!
19 If it be a question of strength, he is mighty; and if of judgment, who will call him to account?	19 Shal I try force? Look how strong he is! Or go to court? But who wil summon him?
20 Though I were right, my own mouth might condemn me; were I innocent, he might put me in the wrong.	20 If I prove myself upright, his mouth may condemn me, even if I am innocent, he may pronounce meperverse.
21 Though I am innocent, I myself cannot know it; I despise my life.	21 But am I innocent? I am no longer sure, and life itself I despise!
22 It is all one! therefore I say: Both the innocent and the wicked he destroys.	22 It is al one, and hence I boldly say: he destroys innocent and guilty alike.
23 When the scourge slays suddenly, he laughs at the despair of the innocent.	23 When a sudden deadly scourge descends, he laughs at the plight of the innocent.
24 The earth is given into the hands of the wicked; he covers the faces of its judges. If it is not he, who then is it?	24 When a country falls into the power of the wicked, he veils the faces of its judges. Or if not he, whoelse?
25 My days are swifter than a runner, they flee away; they see no happiness;	25 My days pass: more swiftly than a runner they flee away with never a glimpse of happiness,
26 They shoot by like skiffs of reed, like an eagle swooping upon its prey.	26 they skim past like a reed canoe, like an eagle swooping on its prey.
27 If I say: I will forget my complaining, I will lay aside my sadness and be of good cheer,	27 If I decide to stifle my complaining, change countenance, and wear a smiling face,
28 Then I am in dread of all my pains; I know that you will not hold me innocent.	28 fear seizes me at the thought of al my woes, for I know you do not regard me as innocent.
29 If I must be accounted guilty, why then should I strive in vain?	29 And if I have done wrong, why should I put myself to useless trouble?
30 If I should wash myself with snow and cleanse my hands with lye,	30 If I wash myself in melted snow, clean my hands with soda,
31 Yet you would plunge me in the ditch, so that my garments would abhor me.	31 you wil only plunge me into the dung, til my clothes themselves recoil from me!
32 For he is not a man like myself, that I should answer him, that we should come together in judgment.	32 For he is not human like me: impossible for me to answer him or appear alongside him in court.
33 Would that there were an arbiter between us, who could lay his hand upon us both	33 There is no arbiter between us, to lay his hand on both,
34 and withdraw his rod from me. Would that his terrors did not frighten me;	34 to stay his rod from me, or keep away his daunting terrors.
35 that I might speak without being afraid of him. Since this is not the case with me,	35 Nonetheless, unafraid of him, I shal speak: since I do not see myself like that at al !