Job 9

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 Then Job answered and said:	1 Then Job answered and said,
2 I know well that it is so; but how can a man be justified before God?	2 I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?
3 Should one wish to contend with him, he could not answer him once in a thousand times.	3 If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.
4 God is wise in heart and mighty in strength; who has withstood him and remained unscathed?	4 He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?
5 He removes the mountains before they know it; he overturns them in his anger.	5 Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.
6 He shakes the earth out of its place, and the pillars beneath it tremble.	6 Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.
7 He commands the sun, and it rises not; he seals up the stars.	7 Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.
8 He alone stretches out the heavens and treads upon the crests of the sea.	8 Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.
9 He made the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south;	9 Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.
10 He does great things past finding out, marvelous things beyond reckoning.	10 Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.
11 Should he come near me, I see him not; should he pass by, I am not aware of him;	11 Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.
12 Should he seize me forcibly, who can say him nay? Who can say to him, "What are you doing?"	12 Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?
13 He is God and he does not relent; the helpers of Rahab bow beneath him.	13 If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.
14 How much less shall I give him any answer, or choose out arguments against him!	14 How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?
15 Even though I were right, I could not answer him, but should rather beg for what was due me.	15 Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.
16 If I appealed to him and he answered my call, I could not believe that he would hearken to my words;	16 If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.
17 With a tempest he might overwhelm me, and multiply my wounds without cause;	17 For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.
18 He need not suffer me to draw breath, but might fill me with bitter griefs.	18 He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.
19 If it be a question of strength, he is mighty; and if of judgment, who will call him to account?	19 If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?
20 Though I were right, my own mouth might condemn me; were I innocent, he might put me in the wrong.	20 If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.
21 Though I am innocent, I myself cannot know it; I despise my life.	21 Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
22 It is all one! therefore I say: Both the innocent and the wicked he destroys.	22 This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
23 When the scourge slays suddenly, he laughs at the despair of the innocent.	23 If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.
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?	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 are swifter than a runner, they flee away; they see no happiness;	25 Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.
26 They shoot by like skiffs of reed, like an eagle swooping upon its prey.	26 They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.
27 If I say: I will forget my complaining, I will lay aside my sadness and be of good cheer,	27 If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:
28 Then I am in dread of all my pains; I know that you will not hold me innocent.	28 I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
29 If I must be accounted guilty, why then should I strive in vain?	29 If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?
30 If I should wash myself with snow and cleanse my hands with lye,	30 If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;
31 Yet you would plunge me in the ditch, so that my garments would abhor me.	31 Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.
32 For he is not a man like myself, that I should answer him, that we should come together in judgment.	32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.
33 Would that there were an arbiter between us, who could lay his hand upon us both	33 Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.
34 and withdraw his rod from me. Would that his terrors did not frighten me;	34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:
35 that I might speak without being afraid of him. Since this is not the case with me,	35 Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.