Job 9

1 Then Job answered and said,⋮

2 I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?⋮

3 If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.⋮

4 He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?⋮

5 Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.⋮

6 Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.⋮

7 Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.⋮

8 Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.⋮

9 Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.⋮

10 Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.⋮

11 Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.⋮

12 Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?⋮

13 If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.⋮

14 How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?⋮

15 Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.⋮

16 If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.⋮

17 For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.⋮

18 He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.⋮

19 If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?⋮

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 were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.⋮

22 This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.⋮

23 If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.⋮

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 Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.⋮

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 complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:⋮

28 I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.⋮

29 If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?⋮

30 If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;⋮

31 Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.⋮

32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.⋮

33 Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.⋮

34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:⋮

35 Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.⋮