Job

The book of Job, chapter 9, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 9 New English Translation

Job's Reply to Bildad

   1 Then Job answered:
   2 "Truly, I know that this is so. But how can a human be just before God?
   3 If someone wishes to contend with him, he cannot answer him one time in a thousand.
   4 He is wise in heart and mighty in strength - who has resisted him and remained safe?
   5 He who removes mountains suddenly, who overturns them in his anger;
   6 he who shakes the earth out of its place so that its pillars tremble;
   7 he who commands the sun and it does not shine and seals up the stars;
   8 he alone spreads out the heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea;
   9 he makes the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the constellations of the southern sky;
   10 he does great and unsearchable things, and wonderful things without number.
   11 If he passes by me, I cannot see him, if he goes by, I cannot perceive him.
   12 If he snatches away, who can turn him back? Who dares to say to him, 'What are you doing?'
   13 God does not restrain his anger; under him the helpers of Rahab lie crushed.

The Impossibility of Facing God in Court

   14 "How much less, then, can I answer him and choose my words to argue with him!
   15 Although I am innocent, I could not answer him; I could only plead with my judge for mercy.
   16 If I summoned him, and he answered me, I would not believe that he would be listening to my voice ?
   17 he who crushes me with a tempest, and multiplies my wounds for no reason.
   18 He does not allow me to recover my breath, for he fills me with bitterness.
   19 If it is a matter of strength, most certainly he is the strong one! And if it is a matter of justice, he will say, 'Who will summon me?'
   20 Although I am innocent, my mouth would condemn me; although I am blameless, it would declare me perverse.
   21 I am blameless. I do not know myself. I despise my life.

Accusation of God's Justice

   22 "It is all one! That is why I say, 'He destroys the blameless and the guilty.'
   23 If a scourge brings sudden death, he mocks at the despair of the innocent.
   24 If a land has been given into the hand of a wicked man, he covers the faces of its judges; if it is not he, then who is it?

Renewed Complaint

   25 "My days are swifter than a runner, they speed by without seeing happiness.
   26 They glide by like reed boats, like an eagle that swoops down on its prey.
   27 If I say, 'I will forget my complaint, I will change my expression and be cheerful, '
   28 I dread all my sufferings, for I know that you do not hold me blameless.
   29 If I am guilty, why then weary myself in vain?
   30 If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands clean with lye,
   31 then you plunge me into a slimy pit and my own clothes abhor me.
   32 For he is not a human being like I am, that I might answer him, that we might come together in judgment.
   33 Nor is there an arbiter between us, who might lay his hand on us both,
   34 who would take his rod away from me so that his terror would not make me afraid.
   35 Then would I speak and not fear him, but it is not so with me.

King James Version

   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.