Job 9
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Then Job answered and said,
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Of a truth I know that it is so: But how can man be just with God?
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If he be pleased to contend with him, He cannot answer him one of a thousand.
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[He is] wise in heart, and mighty in strength: Who has hardened himself against him,
and prospered?-
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[Him] that removes the mountains, and they know it not, When he overturns them in
his anger;
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That shakes the earth out of its place, And its pillars tremble;
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That commands the sun, and it rises not, And seals up the stars;
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That alone stretches out the heavens, And treads upon the waves of the sea;
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That makes the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the chambers of the south;
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That does great things past finding out, Yea, marvelous things without number.
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Behold, he goes by me, and I see him not: He passes on also, but I perceive him not.
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Behold, he seizes [the prey], who can hinder him? Who will say to him, What do you?
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God will not withdraw his anger; The helpers of Rahab do stoop under him.
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How much less shall I answer him, And choose out my words [to reason] with him?
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Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer; I would make supplication to
my judge.
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If I had called, and he had answered me, Yet would I not believe that he hearkened
to my voice.
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For he breaks me with a tempest, And multiplies my wounds without cause.
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He will not suffer me to take my breath, But fills me with bitterness.
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If [we speak] of strength, behold, [he is] mighty! And if of justice, Who, [says he],
will summon me?
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Though I be righteous, mine own mouth shall condemn me: Though I be perfect, it shall
prove me perverse.
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I am perfect; I regard not myself; I despise my life.
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It is all one; therefore I say, He destroys the perfect and the wicked.
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If the scourge slay suddenly, He will mock at the trial of the innocent.
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The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He covers the faces of the judges
thereof: If [it be] not [he], who then is it?
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Now my days are swifter than a post: They flee away, they see no good,
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They are passed away as the swift ships; As the eagle that swoops on the prey.
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If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will put off my [sad] countenance, and be
of good cheer;
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I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that you will not hold me innocent.
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I shall be condemned; Why then do I labor in vain?
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If I wash myself with snow water, And make my hands never so clean;
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Yet will you plunge me in the ditch, And mine own clothes shall abhor me.
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For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, That we should come together
in judgment.
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There is no umpire between us, That might lay his hand upon us both.
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Let him take his rod away from me, And let not his terror make me afraid:
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Then would I speak, and not fear him; For I am not so in myself.