Job 9

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Job spoke next. He said:	1 And Job, responding, said:
2 Indeed, I know it is as you say: how could anyone claim to be upright before God?	2 Truly, I know that it is so, and that man cannot be justified compared with God.
3 Anyone trying to argue matters with him, could not give him one answer in a thousand.	3 If he chooses to contend with him, he is not able to respond to him once out of a thousand times.
4 Among the wisest and the hardiest, who then can successful y defy him?	4 He is understanding in heart and mighty in strength; who has resisted him and yet had peace?
5 He moves the mountains, though they do not know it; he throws them down when he is angry.	5 He has moved mountains, and those whom he overthrew in his fury did not know it.
6 He shakes the earth, and moves it from its place, making al its pil ars tremble.	6 He shakes the earth out of its place and its pillars tremble.
7 The sun, at his command, forbears to rise, and on the stars he sets a seal.	7 He commands the sun and it does not rise, and he closes the stars as if under a seal.
8 He and no other has stretched out the heavens and trampled on the back of the Sea.	8 He alone extends the heavens, and he walks upon the waves of the sea.
9 He has made the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the Mansions of the South.	9 He fashions Arcturus, and Orion, and Hyades, and the interior of the south.
10 The works he does are great and unfathomable, and his marvels cannot be counted.	10 He accomplishes great and incomprehensible and miraculous things, which cannot be numbered.
11 If he passes me, I do not see him; he slips by, imperceptible to me.	11 If he approaches me, I will not see him; if he departs, I will not understand.
12 If he snatches his prey, who is going to stop him or dare to ask, 'What are you doing?'	12 If he suddenly should question, who will answer him? Or who can say, “Why did you do so?”
13 God does not renounce his anger: beneath him, Rahab's minions stil lie prostrate.	13 God, whose wrath no one is able to resist, and under whom they bend who carry the world,
14 And here am I, proposing to defend myself and select my arguments against him!	14 what am I then, that I should answer him and exchange words 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 And if I now have any justice, I will not respond, but will beseech my judge.
16 And if he deigned to answer my citation, I cannot believe he would listen to what I said,	16 And if he should listen to me when I call, I would not believe that he had heard my voice.
17 he who crushes me for one hair, who, for no reason, wounds and wounds again,	17 For he will crush me in a whirlwind and multiply my wounds, even without cause.
18 not even letting me regain my breath, with so much bitterness he fills me!	18 He does not permit my spirit to rest, and he fills me with bitterness.
19 Shal I try force? Look how strong he is! Or go to court? But who wil summon him?	19 If strength is sought, he is most strong; if equity in judgment, no one would dare to give testimony for me.
20 If I prove myself upright, his mouth may condemn me, even if I am innocent, he may pronounce meperverse.	20 If I wanted to justify myself, my own mouth will condemn me; if I would reveal my innocence, he would prove me depraved.
21 But am I innocent? I am no longer sure, and life itself I despise!	21 And if I now became simple, my soul would be ignorant even of this, and my life would weary me.
22 It is al one, and hence I boldly say: he destroys innocent and guilty alike.	22 There is one thing that I have said: both the innocent and the impious he consumes.
23 When a sudden deadly scourge descends, he laughs at the plight of the innocent.	23 If he scourges, let him kill all at once, and not laugh at the punishment 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 Since the earth has been given into the hand of the impious, he covers the face of its judges; for if it is not him, then who is it?
25 My days pass: more swiftly than a runner they flee away with never a glimpse of happiness,	25 My days have been swifter than a messenger; they have fled and have not seen goodness.
26 they skim past like a reed canoe, like an eagle swooping on its prey.	26 They have passed by like ships carrying fruits, just like an eagle flying to food.
27 If I decide to stifle my complaining, change countenance, and wear a smiling face,	27 If I say: “By no means will I speak this way.” I change my face and I am tortured with sorrow.
28 fear seizes me at the thought of al my woes, for I know you do not regard me as innocent.	28 I have dreaded all my works, knowing that you did not spare the offender.
29 And if I have done wrong, why should I put myself to useless trouble?	29 Yet, if I am also just as impious, why have I labored in vain?
30 If I wash myself in melted snow, clean my hands with soda,	30 If I had been washed with snow-like waters, and my hands were shining like the cleanest thing,
31 you wil only plunge me into the dung, til my clothes themselves recoil from me!	31 yet you would plunge me in filth, and my own garments would abhor me.
32 For he is not human like me: impossible for me to answer him or appear alongside him in court.	32 For even I would not answer a man who were like myself, nor one who could be heard with me equally in judgment.
33 There is no arbiter between us, to lay his hand on both,	33 There is no one who could both prevail in argument and in placing his hand between the two.
34 to stay his rod from me, or keep away his daunting terrors.	34 Let him take his staff away from me, and let not the fear of him terrify me.
35 Nonetheless, unafraid of him, I shal speak: since I do not see myself like that at al !	35 I will speak and I will not fear him, for in fearfulness I am not able to respond.