Job 9

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Then Job answered and said,	1 Job spoke next. He said:
2 I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?	2 Indeed, I know it is as you say: how could anyone claim to be upright before God?
3 If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.	3 Anyone trying to argue matters with him, could not give him one answer in a thousand.
4 He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?	4 Among the wisest and the hardiest, who then can successful y defy him?
5 Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.	5 He moves the mountains, though they do not know it; he throws them down when he is angry.
6 Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.	6 He shakes the earth, and moves it from its place, making al its pil ars tremble.
7 Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.	7 The sun, at his command, forbears to rise, and on the stars he sets a seal.
8 Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.	8 He and no other has stretched out the heavens and trampled on the back of the Sea.
9 Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.	9 He has made the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the Mansions of the South.
10 Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.	10 The works he does are great and unfathomable, and his marvels cannot be counted.
11 Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.	11 If he passes me, I do not see him; he slips by, imperceptible to me.
12 Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?	12 If he snatches his prey, who is going to stop him or dare to ask, 'What are you doing?'
13 If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.	13 God does not renounce his anger: beneath him, Rahab's minions stil lie prostrate.
14 How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?	14 And here am I, proposing to defend myself and select my arguments against him!
15 Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.	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 had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.	16 And if he deigned to answer my citation, I cannot believe he would listen to what I said,
17 For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.	17 he who crushes me for one hair, who, for no reason, wounds and wounds again,
18 He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.	18 not even letting me regain my breath, with so much bitterness he fills me!
19 If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?	19 Shal I try force? Look how strong he is! Or go to court? But who wil summon him?
20 If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.	20 If I prove myself upright, his mouth may condemn me, even if I am innocent, he may pronounce meperverse.
21 Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.	21 But am I innocent? I am no longer sure, and life itself I despise!
22 This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.	22 It is al one, and hence I boldly say: he destroys innocent and guilty alike.
23 If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial 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 hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?	24 When a country falls into the power of the wicked, he veils the faces of its judges. Or if not he, whoelse?
25 Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.	25 My days pass: more swiftly than a runner they flee away with never a glimpse of happiness,
26 They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.	26 they skim past like a reed canoe, like an eagle swooping on its prey.
27 If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:	27 If I decide to stifle my complaining, change countenance, and wear a smiling face,
28 I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt 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 be wicked, why then labour I in vain?	29 And if I have done wrong, why should I put myself to useless trouble?
30 If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;	30 If I wash myself in melted snow, clean my hands with soda,
31 Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall 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, as I am, that I should answer him, and 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 Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.	33 There is no arbiter between us, to lay his hand on both,
34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:	34 to stay his rod from me, or keep away his daunting terrors.
35 Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.	35 Nonetheless, unafraid of him, I shal speak: since I do not see myself like that at al !