Job 9

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
1 And Job, responding, said:	1 Then Job answered:
2 Truly, I know that it is so, and that man cannot be justified compared with God.	2 "Truly I know that it is so: But how can a man be just before God?
3 If he chooses to contend with him, he is not able to respond to him once out of a thousand times.	3 If one wished to contend with him, one could not answer him once in a thousand times.
4 He is understanding in heart and mighty in strength; who has resisted him and yet had peace?	4 He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength --who has hardened himself against him, and succeeded?--
5 He has moved mountains, and those whom he overthrew in his fury did not know it.	5 he who removes mountains, and they know it not, when he overturns them in his anger;
6 He shakes the earth out of its place and its pillars tremble.	6 who shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble;
7 He commands the sun and it does not rise, and he closes the stars as if under a seal.	7 who commands the sun, and it does not rise; who seals up the stars;
8 He alone extends the heavens, and he walks upon the waves of the sea.	8 who alone stretched out the heavens, and trampled the waves of the sea;
9 He fashions Arcturus, and Orion, and Hyades, and the interior of the south.	9 who made the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the chambers of the south;
10 He accomplishes great and incomprehensible and miraculous things, which cannot be numbered.	10 who does great things beyond understanding, and marvelous things without number.
11 If he approaches me, I will not see him; if he departs, I will not understand.	11 Lo, he passes by me, and I see him not; he moves on, but I do not perceive him.
12 If he suddenly should question, who will answer him? Or who can say, “Why did you do so?”	12 Behold, he snatches away; who can hinder him? who will say to him, 'What doest thou?
13 God, whose wrath no one is able to resist, and under whom they bend who carry the world,	13 "God will not turn back his anger; beneath him bowed the helpers of Rahab.
14 what am I then, that I should answer him and exchange words with him?	14 How then can I answer him, choosing my words with him?
15 And if I now have any justice, I will not respond, but will beseech my judge.	15 Though I am innocent, I cannot answer him; I must appeal for mercy to my accuser.
16 And if he should listen to me when I call, I would not believe that he had heard my voice.	16 If I summoned him and he answered me, I would not believe that he was listening to my voice.
17 For he will crush me in a whirlwind and multiply my wounds, even without cause.	17 For he crushes me with a tempest, and multiplies my wounds without cause;
18 He does not permit my spirit to rest, and he fills me with bitterness.	18 he will not let me get my breath, but fills me with bitterness.
19 If strength is sought, he is most strong; if equity in judgment, no one would dare to give testimony for me.	19 If it is a contest of strength, behold him! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon him?
20 If I wanted to justify myself, my own mouth will condemn me; if I would reveal my innocence, he would prove me depraved.	20 Though I am innocent, my own mouth would condemn me; though I am blameless, he would prove me perverse.
21 And if I now became simple, my soul would be ignorant even of this, and my life would weary me.	21 I am blameless; I regard not myself; I loathe my life.
22 There is one thing that I have said: both the innocent and the impious he consumes.	22 It is all one; therefore I say, he destroys both the blameless and the wicked.
23 If he scourges, let him kill all at once, and not laugh at the punishment of the innocent.	23 When disaster brings sudden death, he mocks at the calamity of the innocent.
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?	24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; he covers the faces of its judges-- if it is not he, who then is it?
25 My days have been swifter than a messenger; they have fled and have not seen goodness.	25 "My days are swifter than a runner; they flee away, they see no good.
26 They have passed by like ships carrying fruits, just like an eagle flying to food.	26 They go by like skiffs of reed, like an eagle swooping on the prey.
27 If I say: “By no means will I speak this way.” I change my face and I am tortured with sorrow.	27 If I say, 'I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad countenance, and be of good cheer,'
28 I have dreaded all my works, knowing that you did not spare the offender.	28 I become afraid of all my suffering, for I know thou wilt not hold me innocent.
29 Yet, if I am also just as impious, why have I labored in vain?	29 I shall be condemned; why then do I labor in vain?
30 If I had been washed with snow-like waters, and my hands were shining like the cleanest thing,	30 If I wash myself with snow, and cleanse my hands with lye,
31 yet you would plunge me in filth, and my own garments would abhor me.	31 yet thou wilt plunge me into a pit, and my own clothes will abhor me.
32 For even I would not answer a man who were like myself, nor one who could be heard with me equally in judgment.	32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I might answer him, that we should come to trial together.
33 There is no one who could both prevail in argument and in placing his hand between the two.	33 There is no umpire between us, who might lay his hand upon us both.
34 Let him take his staff away from me, and let not the fear of him terrify me.	34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not dread of him terrify me.
35 I will speak and I will not fear him, for in fearfulness I am not able to respond.	35 Then I would speak without fear of him, for I am not so in myself.