Job 9

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Then Job answered:	1 Job spoke next. He said:
2 "Truly I know that it is so: But how can a man be just before God?	2 Indeed, I know it is as you say: how could anyone claim to be upright before God?
3 If one wished to contend with him, one could not answer him once in a thousand times.	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 has hardened himself against him, and succeeded?--	4 Among the wisest and the hardiest, who then can successful y defy him?
5 he who removes mountains, and they know it not, when he overturns them in his anger;	5 He moves the mountains, though they do not know it; he throws them down when he is angry.
6 who shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble;	6 He shakes the earth, and moves it from its place, making al its pil ars tremble.
7 who commands the sun, and it does not rise; who seals up the stars;	7 The sun, at his command, forbears to rise, and on the stars he sets a seal.
8 who alone stretched out the heavens, and trampled the waves of the sea;	8 He and no other has stretched out the heavens and trampled on the back of the Sea.
9 who made the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the chambers of the south;	9 He has made the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the Mansions of the South.
10 who does great things beyond understanding, and marvelous things without number.	10 The works he does are great and unfathomable, and his marvels cannot be counted.
11 Lo, he passes by me, and I see him not; he moves on, but I do not perceive him.	11 If he passes me, I do not see him; he slips by, imperceptible to me.
12 Behold, he snatches away; who can hinder him? who will say to 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 "God will not turn back his anger; beneath him bowed the helpers of Rahab.	13 God does not renounce his anger: beneath him, Rahab's minions stil lie prostrate.
14 How then can I answer him, choosing my words with him?	14 And here am I, proposing to defend myself and select my arguments against him!
15 Though I am innocent, I cannot answer him; I must appeal for mercy to my accuser.	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 summoned him and he answered me, I would not believe that he was listening to my voice.	16 And if he deigned to answer my citation, I cannot believe he would listen to what I said,
17 For he crushes me with a tempest, and multiplies my wounds without cause;	17 he who crushes me for one hair, who, for no reason, wounds and wounds again,
18 he will not let me get my breath, but fills me with bitterness.	18 not even letting me regain my breath, with so much bitterness he fills me!
19 If it is a contest of strength, behold him! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon him?	19 Shal I try force? Look how strong he is! Or go to court? But who wil summon him?
20 Though I am innocent, my own mouth would condemn me; though I am blameless, he would prove me perverse.	20 If I prove myself upright, his mouth may condemn me, even if I am innocent, he may pronounce meperverse.
21 I am blameless; I regard not myself; I loathe my life.	21 But am I innocent? I am no longer sure, and life itself I despise!
22 It is all one; therefore I say, he destroys both the blameless and the wicked.	22 It is al one, and hence I boldly say: he destroys innocent and guilty alike.
23 When disaster brings sudden death, he mocks at the calamity 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 covers the faces of its judges-- if it is not he, who then is it?	24 When a country falls into the power of the wicked, he veils the faces of its judges. Or if not he, whoelse?
25 "My days are swifter than a runner; 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 go by like skiffs of reed, like an eagle swooping on 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 put off my sad countenance, and be of good cheer,'	27 If I decide to stifle my complaining, change countenance, and wear a smiling face,
28 I become afraid of all my suffering, for I know 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 I shall be condemned; why then do I labor in vain?	29 And if I have done wrong, why should I put myself to useless trouble?
30 If I wash myself with snow, and cleanse my hands with lye,	30 If I wash myself in melted snow, clean my hands with soda,
31 yet thou wilt plunge me into a pit, and my own clothes will 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 might answer him, that we should come to trial together.	32 For he is not human like me: impossible for me to answer him or appear alongside him in court.
33 There is no umpire between us, who 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 dread of him terrify me.	34 to stay his rod from me, or keep away his daunting terrors.
35 Then I would speak without fear of him, for I am not so in myself.	35 Nonetheless, unafraid of him, I shal speak: since I do not see myself like that at al !