| Chapter 9 |
1 |
And Job answered, and said: --
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2 |
Indeed I know it is so, and that man cannot be justified compared with --
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3 |
If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one for a thousand. --
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4 |
He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath resisted him, and hath had peace ? --
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5 |
Who hath removed mountains, and they whom he overthrew in his wrath, knew it not. --
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6 |
Who shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble. --
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7 |
Who commandeth tile sun and it riseth not: and shutteth up the stars as it were under a seal: --
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8 |
Who alone spreadeth out the heavens, and walketh upon the waves of the sea. --
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9 |
Who maketh Arcturus, and Orion, and Hyades, and the inner parts of the south. --
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10 |
Who doth things great and incomprehensible, and wonderful, of which there is no number. --
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11 |
If he come to me, I shall not see him: if he depart I shall not understand. --
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12 |
If he examine on a sudden, who shall answer him? or who can say: Why dost thou so? --
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13 |
God, whose wrath no mall can resist, and under whom they stoop that bear up the world. --
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14 |
What am I then, that I should answer him, and have words with him? --
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15 |
I, who although I should have any just thing, would not answer, but would make supplication to my judge. --
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16 |
And if he should hear me when I call, I should not believe that he had heard my voice. --
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17 |
For he shall crush me in a whirlwind, and multiply my wounds even without cause. --
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18 |
He alloweth not my spirit to rest, and he filleth me with bitterness. --
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19 |
If strength be demanded, he is most strong: if equity of judgment, no man dare bear witness for me. --
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20 |
If I would justify myself, my own mouth shall condemn me: if I would shew myself innocent, he shall prove me wicked. --
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21 |
Although I should be simple, even this my soul shall be ignorant of, and I shall be weary of my life. --
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22 |
One thing there is that I have spoken, both the innocent and the wicked he consumeth. --
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23 |
If he scourge, let him kill at once, and not laugh at the pains of the innocent. --
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24 |
The earth is given into the hand of the wicked, he covereth the face of the judges thereof: and if it be not he, who is it then? --
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25 |
My days have been swifter than a post: they have fled away and have not seen good. --
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26 |
They have passed by as ships carrying fruits, as an eagle flying to the prey. --
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27 |
If I say: I will not speak so: I change my face, and am tormented with sorrow. --
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28 |
I feared all my works, knowing that thou didst not spare the offender. --
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29 |
But if so also I am wicked, why have I laboured in vain? --
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30 |
If I be washed as it were with snow waters, and my hands shall shine ever so clean : --
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31 |
Yet thou shalt plunge me in filth, and my garments shall abhor me, --
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32 |
For I shall not answer a man that is like myself: nor one that may be heard with me equally in judgment. --
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33 |
There is none that may be able to reprove both, and to put his hand between both. --
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34 |
Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me. --
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35 |
I will speak, and will not fear him: for I cannot answer while I am in fear. --
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