Chapter 9

  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 hath hardened himself against him, and prospered?-  

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  [Him] that removeth the mountains, and they know it not, When he overturneth them in his anger;  

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  That shaketh the earth out of its place, And the pillars thereof tremble;  

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  That commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, And sealeth up the stars;  

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  That alone stretcheth out the heavens, And treadeth upon the waves of the sea;  

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  That maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the chambers of the south;  

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  That doeth great things past finding out, Yea, marvellous things without number.  

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

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  Behold, he seizeth [the prey], who can hinder him? Who will say unto him, What doest thou?  

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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 unto my voice.  

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  For he breaketh me with a tempest, And multiplieth my wounds without cause.  

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  He will not suffer me to take my breath, But filleth me with bitterness.  

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  If [we speak] of strength, lo, [he is] mighty! And if of justice, Who, [saith 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 destroyeth 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 covereth 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 swoopeth 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 thou wilt 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 wilt thou 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 betwixt 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.  

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