Job 9

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¹Then Iob answered, and sayd,

²I knowe verily that it is so: for howe should man compared vnto God, be iustified?

³If I would dispute with him, hee could not answere him one thing of a thousand.

⁴He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath bene fierce against him and hath prospered?

⁵He remoueth the mountaines, and they feele not when he ouerthroweth them in his wrath.

⁶Hee remooueth the earth out of her place, that the pillars thereof doe shake.

⁷He commandeth the sunne, and it riseth not: hee closeth vp the starres, as vnder a signet.

⁸Hee himselfe alone spreadeth out the heauens, and walketh vpon the height of the sea.

⁹He maketh the starres Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the climates of the South.

¹⁰He doeth great things, and vnsearcheable: yea, marueilous things without nomber.

¹¹Lo, when he goeth by me, I see him not: and when he passeth by, I perceiue him not.

¹²Behold, when he taketh a pray, who can make him to restore it? who shall say vnto him, What doest thou?

¹³God will not withdrawe his anger, and the most mightie helpes doe stoupe vnder him.

¹⁴Howe much lesse shall I answere him? or howe should I finde out my words with him?

¹⁵For though I were iust, yet could I not answere, but I would make supplication to my Iudge.

¹⁶If I cry, and he answere me, yet woulde I not beleeue, that he heard my voyce.

¹⁷For he destroyeth mee with a tempest, and woundeth me without cause.

¹⁸He wil not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitternesse.

¹⁹If we speake of strength, behold, he is strog: if we speake of iudgement, who shall bring me in to pleade?

²⁰If I woulde iustifie my selfe, mine owne mouth shall condemne mee: if I would be perfite, he shall iudge me wicked.

²¹Though I were perfite, yet I knowe not my soule: therefore abhorre I my life.

²²This is one point: therefore I said, Hee destroyeth the perfite and the wicked.

²³If the scourge should suddenly slay, should God laugh at the punishment of the innocent?

²⁴The earth is giuen into the hand of ye wicked: he couereth the faces of the iudges therof: if not, where is he? or who is he?

²⁵My dayes haue bene more swift then a post: they haue fled, and haue seene no good thing.

²⁶They are passed as with the most swift ships, and as the eagle that flyeth to the pray.

²⁷If I say, I wil forget my complaynt, I will cease from my wrath, and comfort mee,

²⁸Then I am afrayd of all my sorowes, knowing that thou wilt not iudge me innocent.

²⁹If I be wicked, why labour I thus in vaine?

³⁰If I wash my selfe with snowe water, and purge mine hands most cleane,

³¹Yet shalt thou plunge mee in the pit, and mine owne clothes shall make me filthie.

³²For he is not a man as I am, that I shoulde answere him, if we come together to iudgement.

³³Neyther is there any vmpire that might lay his hand vpon vs both.

³⁴Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his feare astonish me:

³⁵Then will I speake, and feare him not: but because I am not so, I holde me still.

Job 9

¹Then Job answered and said,

²I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?

³If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.

⁴He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?

⁵Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.

⁶Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.

⁷Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.

⁸Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.

⁹Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.

¹⁰Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.

¹¹Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.

¹²Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?

¹³If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.

¹⁴How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?

¹⁵Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.

¹⁶If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.

¹⁷For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.

¹⁸He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.

¹⁹If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?

²⁰If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.

²¹Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.

²²This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

²³If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.

²⁴The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?

²⁵Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.

²⁶They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.

²⁷If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:

²⁸I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.

²⁹If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?

³⁰If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;

³¹Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.

³²For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.

³³Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.

³⁴Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:

³⁵Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.