JOB 9

1Then Job answered and said: 2Truly I know it is so, But how can a man be
righteous before God !If one wished to contend with "im, "e could not
answer "im one time out of a thousand# $God is wise in heart and mighty in
strength# %ho has hardened himself against "im and &ros&ered '"e remo(es
the mountains, and they do not know %hen "e o(erturns them in "is anger)
*"e shakes the earth out of its &lace, +nd its &illars tremble) ,"e commands
the sun, and it does not rise) "e seals off the stars) -"e alone s&reads out the
hea(ens, +nd treads on the wa(es of the sea) ."e made the Bear, /rion, and
the 0leiades, +nd the chambers of the south) 11"e does great things &ast
finding out, 2es, wonders without number# 11If "e goes by me, I do not see
"im) If "e mo(es &ast, I do not &ercei(e "im) 12If "e takes away, who can
hinder "im %ho can say to "im, 3%hat are 2ou doing4 1!God will not
withdraw "is anger, The allies of the &rouda lie &rostrate beneath "im# 1$"ow
then can I answer "im, +nd choose my words to reason with "im 1'5or
though I were righteous, I could not answer "im) I would beg mercy of my
Judge# 1*If I called and "e answered me, I would not belie(e that "e was
listening to my (oice# 1,5or "e crushes me with a tem&est, +nd multi&lies my
wounds without cause# 1-"e will not allow me to catch my breath, But fills me
with bitterness# 1.If it is a matter of strength, indeed "e is strong) +nd if of
6ustice, who will a&&oint my day in court 21Though I were righteous, my own
mouth would condemn me) Though I were blameless, it would &ro(e me
&er(erse# 21I am blameless, yet I do not know myself) I des&ise my life# 22It
is all one thing) Therefore I say, 3"e destroys the blameless and the wicked#4
2!If the scourge slays suddenly, "e laughs at the &light of the innocent# 2$The
earth is gi(en into the hand of the wicked# "e co(ers the faces of its 6udges# If
it is not "e, who else could it be 2'7ow my days are swifter than a runner)
They flee away, they see no good# 2*They &ass by like swift shi&s, 8ike an
eagle swoo&ing on its &rey# 2,If I say, 3I will forget my com&laint, I will &ut off
my sad face and wear a smile,4 2-I am afraid of all my sufferings) I know that
2ou will not hold me innocent# 2.If I am condemned, %hy then do I labor in
(ain !1If I wash myself with snow water, +nd cleanse my hands with soa&,
!12et 2ou will &lunge me into the &it, +nd my own clothes will abhor me#
!25or "e is not a man, as I am, That I may answer "im, +nd that we should
go to court together# !!7or is there any mediator between us, %ho may lay his
hand on us both# !$8et "im take "is rod away from me, +nd do not let dread
of "im terrify me# !'Then I would s&eak and not fear "im, But it is not so with
me#