Job 9

¹ Then Job answered and said,

² “Truly I know that it is so: 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 walketh 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 God will not turn back his anger; the helpers of Rahab do stoop under him.

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

¹⁵ Though I were righteous, yet would I not answer him; I would make supplication to my judge.

¹⁶ If I called, and he would answer me; yet would I not believe that he 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 will set me a time to plead?

²⁰ If I be righteous, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I be wicked, what do I do?

²¹ And if I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: yea, I should be righteous, my own mouth should accuse me.

²² Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.

²³ This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

²⁴ If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.

²⁵ The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if it be not he, who is it?

²⁶ My days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.

²⁷ They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.