Job 9

NEW JERUSALEM	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 Job spoke next. He said:	1 Then Job answered and said,
2 Indeed, I know it is as you say: how could anyone claim to be upright before God?	2 I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?
3 Anyone trying to argue matters with him, could not give him one answer in a thousand.	3 If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.
4 Among the wisest and the hardiest, who then can successful y defy him?	4 He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?
5 He moves the mountains, though they do not know it; he throws them down when he is angry.	5 Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.
6 He shakes the earth, and moves it from its place, making al its pil ars tremble.	6 Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.
7 The sun, at his command, forbears to rise, and on the stars he sets a seal.	7 Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.
8 He and no other has stretched out the heavens and trampled on the back of the Sea.	8 Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.
9 He has made the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the Mansions of the South.	9 Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.
10 The works he does are great and unfathomable, and his marvels cannot be counted.	10 Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.
11 If he passes me, I do not see him; he slips by, imperceptible to me.	11 Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.
12 If he snatches his prey, who is going to stop him or dare to ask, 'What are you doing?'	12 Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?
13 God does not renounce his anger: beneath him, Rahab's minions stil lie prostrate.	13 If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.
14 And here am I, proposing to defend myself and select my arguments against him!	14 How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?
15 Even if I am upright, what point is there in answering him? I can only plead for mercy with my judge!	15 Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.
16 And if he deigned to answer my citation, I cannot believe he would listen to what I said,	16 If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.
17 he who crushes me for one hair, who, for no reason, wounds and wounds again,	17 For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.
18 not even letting me regain my breath, with so much bitterness he fills me!	18 He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.
19 Shal I try force? Look how strong he is! Or go to court? But who wil summon him?	19 If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?
20 If I prove myself upright, his mouth may condemn me, even if I am innocent, he may pronounce meperverse.	20 If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.
21 But am I innocent? I am no longer sure, and life itself I despise!	21 Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
22 It is al one, and hence I boldly say: he destroys innocent and guilty alike.	22 This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
23 When a sudden deadly scourge descends, he laughs at the plight of the innocent.	23 If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.
24 When a country falls into the power of the wicked, he veils the faces of its judges. Or if not he, whoelse?	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?
25 My days pass: more swiftly than a runner they flee away with never a glimpse of happiness,	25 Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.
26 they skim past like a reed canoe, like an eagle swooping on its prey.	26 They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.
27 If I decide to stifle my complaining, change countenance, and wear a smiling face,	27 If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:
28 fear seizes me at the thought of al my woes, for I know you do not regard me as innocent.	28 I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
29 And if I have done wrong, why should I put myself to useless trouble?	29 If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?
30 If I wash myself in melted snow, clean my hands with soda,	30 If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;
31 you wil only plunge me into the dung, til my clothes themselves recoil from me!	31 Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.
32 For he is not human like me: impossible for me to answer him or appear alongside him in court.	32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.
33 There is no arbiter between us, to lay his hand on both,	33 Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.
34 to stay his rod from me, or keep away his daunting terrors.	34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:
35 Nonetheless, unafraid of him, I shal speak: since I do not see myself like that at al !	35 Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.