JPS - Job - 9

9:1  Then Job answered and said:

9:2  Of a truth I know that it is so; and how can man be just with G-d?

9:3  If one should desire to contend with Him, he could not answer Him one of a thousand.

9:4  He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength; who hath hardened himself against Him, and prospered?

9:5  Who removeth the mountains, and they know it not, when He overturneth them in His anger.

9:6  Who shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.

9:7  Who commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.

9:8  Who alone stretcheth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.

9:9  Who maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.

9:10  Who doeth great things past finding out; yea, marvellous things 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 snatcheth away, who can hinder Him? Who will say unto Him: 'What doest Thou?'

9:13  G-d will not withdraw His anger; the helpers of Rahab did stoop under Him.

9:14  How much less shall I answer Him, and choose out my arguments with Him?

9:15  Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer; I would make supplication to Him that contendeth with me.

9:16  If I had called, and He had answered me; yet would I not believe that He would hearken unto my voice--

9:17  He that would break me with a tempest, and multiply my wounds without cause;

9:18  That would not suffer me to take my breath, but fill me with bitterness.

9:19  If it be a matter of strength, lo, He is mighty! and if of justice, who will appoint me a time?

9:20  Though I be righteous, mine own mouth shall condemn me; though I be innocent, He shall prove me perverse.

9:21  I am innocent--I regard not myself, I despise my life.

9:22  It is all one--therefore I say: He destroyeth the innocent and the wicked.

9:23  If the scourge slay suddenly, He will mock at the calamity of the guiltless.

9:24  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?

9:25  Now my days are swifter than a runner; they flee away, they see no good.

9:26  They are passed away as the swift ships; as the vulture that swoopeth on the prey.

9:27  If I say: 'I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad countenance, and be of good cheer',

9:28  I am afraid of all my pains, I know that Thou wilt not hold me guiltless.

9:29  I shall be condemned; why then do I labour 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 mine own clothes shall abhor me.

9:32  For He is not a man, as I am, that I should answer Him, that we should come together in judgment.

9:33  There is no arbiter betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.

9:34  Let Him take His rod away from me, and let not His terror make me afraid;

9:35  Then would I speak, and not fear Him; for I am not so with myself.