Job 9

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 And Job, responding, said:	1 Then Job answered and said:
2 Truly, I know that it is so, and that man cannot be justified compared with God.	2 I know well that it is so; but how can a man be justified 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 Should one wish to contend with him, he 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 God is wise in heart and mighty in strength; who has withstood him and remained unscathed?
5 He has moved mountains, and those whom he overthrew in his fury did not know it.	5 He removes the mountains before they know it; he overturns them in his anger.
6 He shakes the earth out of its place and its pillars tremble.	6 He shakes the earth out of its place, and the pillars beneath it tremble.
7 He commands the sun and it does not rise, and he closes the stars as if under a seal.	7 He commands the sun, and it rises not; he seals up the stars.
8 He alone extends the heavens, and he walks upon the waves of the sea.	8 He alone stretches out the heavens and treads upon the crests of the sea.
9 He fashions Arcturus, and Orion, and Hyades, and the interior of the south.	9 He made the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south;
10 He accomplishes great and incomprehensible and miraculous things, which cannot be numbered.	10 He does great things past finding out, marvelous things beyond reckoning.
11 If he approaches me, I will not see him; if he departs, I will not understand.	11 Should he come near me, I see him not; should he pass by, I am not aware of him;
12 If he suddenly should question, who will answer him? Or who can say, “Why did you do so?”	12 Should he seize me forcibly, who can say him nay? Who can say to him, "What are you doing?"
13 God, whose wrath no one is able to resist, and under whom they bend who carry the world,	13 He is God and he does not relent; the helpers of Rahab bow beneath him.
14 what am I then, that I should answer him and exchange words with him?	14 How much less shall I give him any answer, or choose out arguments against him!
15 And if I now have any justice, I will not respond, but will beseech my judge.	15 Even though I were right, I could not answer him, but should rather beg for what was due me.
16 And if he should listen to me when I call, I would not believe that he had heard my voice.	16 If I appealed to him and he answered my call, I could not believe that he would hearken to my words;
17 For he will crush me in a whirlwind and multiply my wounds, even without cause.	17 With a tempest he might overwhelm me, and multiply my wounds without cause;
18 He does not permit my spirit to rest, and he fills me with bitterness.	18 He need not suffer me to draw breath, but might fill me with bitter griefs.
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 be a question of strength, he is mighty; and if of judgment, who will call him to account?
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 were right, my own mouth might condemn me; were I innocent, he might put me in the wrong.
21 And if I now became simple, my soul would be ignorant even of this, and my life would weary me.	21 Though I am innocent, I myself cannot know it; I despise 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: Both the innocent and the wicked he destroys.
23 If he scourges, let him kill all at once, and not laugh at the punishment of the innocent.	23 When the scourge slays suddenly, he laughs at the despair 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 hands 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 happiness;
26 They have passed by like ships carrying fruits, just like an eagle flying to food.	26 They shoot by like skiffs of reed, like an eagle swooping upon its 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 complaining, I will lay aside my sadness and be of good cheer,
28 I have dreaded all my works, knowing that you did not spare the offender.	28 Then I am in dread of all my pains; I know that you will not hold me innocent.
29 Yet, if I am also just as impious, why have I labored in vain?	29 If I must be accounted guilty, why then should I strive in vain?
30 If I had been washed with snow-like waters, and my hands were shining like the cleanest thing,	30 If I should 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 you would plunge me in the ditch, so that my garments would 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 like myself, that I should answer him, that we should come together in judgment.
33 There is no one who could both prevail in argument and in placing his hand between the two.	33 Would that there were an arbiter between us, who could 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 and withdraw his rod from me. Would that his terrors did not frighten me;
35 I will speak and I will not fear him, for in fearfulness I am not able to respond.	35 that I might speak without being afraid of him. Since this is not the case with me,