9:1 Then Job answered and said,
9:2 I know [it to be] so of a truth: but how should man be just
with God?
9:3 If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a
thousand.
9:4 [He is] wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath
hardened [himself] against him, and hath prospered?
9:5 Who removeth the mountains, and they know not: who
overturneth them in his anger.
9:6 Who shaketh the earth out of her place, and its pillars
tremble.
9:7 Who commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up
the stars.
9:8 Who alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the
waves of the sea.
9:9 Who maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers
of the south.
9:10 Who doeth great things past finding out; yes, and wonders
without number.
9:11 Lo, he goeth by me, and I see [him] not: he passeth on
also, but I perceive him not.
9:12 Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say to
him, What doest thou?
9:13 [If] God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do
stoop under him.
9:14 How much less shall I answer him, [and] choose out my words
[to reason] with him?
9:15 Whom, though I were righteous, [yet] would I not answer,
[but] I would make supplication to my judge.
9:16 If I had called, and he had answered me; [yet] I would not
believe that he had hearkened to my voice.
9:17 For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my
wounds without cause.
9:18 He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me
with bitterness.
9:19 If [I speak] of strength, lo, [he is] strong: and if of
judgment, who shall set me a time [to plead]?
9:20 If I justify myself, my own mouth will condemn me: [if I
say], I [am] perfect, that also will prove me perverse.
9:21 [Though] I [were] perfect, [yet] would I not know my soul:
I would despise my life.
9:22 This [is] one [thing], therefore I said [it], he destroyeth
the perfect and the wicked.
9:23 If the scourge shall slay suddenly, he will laugh at the
trial of the innocent.
9:24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth
the faces of its judges; if not, where, [and] who [is] he?
9:25 Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they
see no good.
9:26 They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle
[that] hasteth to the prey.
9:27 If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my
heaviness, and comfort [myself]:
9:28 I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not
hold me innocent.
9:29 [If] I am wicked, why then do I labor in vain?
9:30 If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never
so clean;
9:31 Yet wilt thou plunge me in the ditch, and my own clothes
shall abhor me.
9:32 For [he is] not a man, as I [am], [that] I should answer
him, [and] we should come together in judgment.
9:33 Neither is there any judge between us, [that] might lay his
hand upon us both.
9:34 Let him take away his rod from me, and let not his fear
terrify me:
9:35 [Then] would I speak, and not fear him; but [it is] not so
with me.
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