Job 9

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Then Job answered and said,	1 Then Job answered and said:
2 I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?	2 I know well that it is so; but how can a man be justified before God?
3 If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.	3 Should one wish to contend with him, he could not answer him once in a thousand times.
4 He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?	4 God is wise in heart and mighty in strength; who has withstood him and remained unscathed?
5 Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.	5 He removes the mountains before they know it; he overturns them in his anger.
6 Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.	6 He shakes the earth out of its place, and the pillars beneath it tremble.
7 Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.	7 He commands the sun, and it rises not; he seals up the stars.
8 Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.	8 He alone stretches out the heavens and treads upon the crests of the sea.
9 Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.	9 He made the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south;
10 Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.	10 He does great things past finding out, marvelous things beyond reckoning.
11 Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.	11 Should he come near me, I see him not; should he pass by, I am not aware of him;
12 Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?	12 Should he seize me forcibly, who can say him nay? Who can say to him, "What are you doing?"
13 If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.	13 He is God and he does not relent; the helpers of Rahab bow beneath him.
14 How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?	14 How much less shall I give him any answer, or choose out arguments against him!
15 Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.	15 Even though I were right, I could not answer him, but should rather beg for what was due me.
16 If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.	16 If I appealed to him and he answered my call, I could not believe that he would hearken to my words;
17 For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.	17 With a tempest he might overwhelm me, and multiply my wounds without cause;
18 He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.	18 He need not suffer me to draw breath, but might fill me with bitter griefs.
19 If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?	19 If it be a question of strength, he is mighty; and if of judgment, who will call him to account?
20 If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.	20 Though I were right, my own mouth might condemn me; were I innocent, he might put me in the wrong.
21 Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.	21 Though I am innocent, I myself cannot know it; I despise my life.
22 This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.	22 It is all one! therefore I say: Both the innocent and the wicked he destroys.
23 If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.	23 When the scourge slays suddenly, he laughs at the despair of the innocent.
24 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?	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?
25 Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.	25 My days are swifter than a runner, they flee away; they see no happiness;
26 They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.	26 They shoot by like skiffs of reed, like an eagle swooping upon its prey.
27 If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:	27 If I say: I will forget my complaining, I will lay aside my sadness and be of good cheer,
28 I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.	28 Then I am in dread of all my pains; I know that you will not hold me innocent.
29 If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?	29 If I must be accounted guilty, why then should I strive in vain?
30 If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;	30 If I should wash myself with snow and cleanse my hands with lye,
31 Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.	31 Yet you would plunge me in the ditch, so that my garments would abhor me.
32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.	32 For he is not a man like myself, that I should answer him, that we should come together in judgment.
33 Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.	33 Would that there were an arbiter between us, who could lay his hand upon us both
34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:	34 and withdraw his rod from me. Would that his terrors did not frighten me;
35 Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.	35 that I might speak without being afraid of him. Since this is not the case with me,