Noyes - Job - 9

9:1  Then Job answered and said:

9:2  Of a truth, I know that it is so: For how can man be just before God?

9:3  If he choose to contend with him, He cannot answer him to one charge of a thousand.

9:4  He is excellent in wisdom, mighty in strength: Who hath hardened himself against him, and prospered?

9:5  He removeth the mountains, and they know it not; He overturneth them in his anger.

9:6  He shaketh the earth out of her place, And the pillars thereof tremble.

9:7  He commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, And he sealeth up the stars.

9:8  He alone spreadeth out the heavens, And walketh upon the high waves of the sea.

9:9  He made the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the secret chambers of the South.

9:10  He doeth great things past finding out, Yea, wonderful things without number.

9:11  Lo! he goeth by me, but I see him not; He passeth along, but I do not perceive him.

9:12  Lo! he seizeth, and who can hinder him? Who will say to him, What doest thou?

9:13  God will not turn away his anger; The proud helpers are brought low before him.

9:14  How much less shall I answer him, And choose out words to contend with him?

9:15  Though I were innocent, I would not answer him; I would cast myself on the mercy of my judge.

9:16  Should I call, and he make answer to me, I could not believe that he listened to my voice,—

9:17  He who falleth upon me with a tempest, And multiplieth my wounds without cause!

9:18  Who will not suffer me to take my breath, But filleth me with bitterness!

9:19  If I look to strength, "Lo! here am I!" [saith he,] If to justice, "Who shall summon me to trial?"

9:20  Though I were upright, yet must my own mouth condemn me; Though I were innocent, He would prove me perverse.

9:21  Though I were innocent, I would not care for myself; I would despise my life.

9:22  It is all one; therefore I will affirm, He destroyeth the righteous and the wicked alike.

9:23  When the scourge bringeth sudden destruction, He laugheth at the sufferings of the innocent.

9:24  The earth is given into the hands of the wicked; He covereth the face of the judges thereof; If it be not He, who is it?

9:25  My days have been swifter than a courier; They have fled away; they have seen no good.

9:26  They have gone by like the reed-skiffs; Like the eagle, darting upon his prey.

9:27  If I say, I will forget my lamentation, I will change my countenance, and take courage,

9:28  Still am I in dread of the multitude of my sorrows; For I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.

9:29  I shall be found guilty; Why then should I labor in vain?

9:30  If I wash myself in snow, And cleanse my hands with lye,

9:31  Still wilt thou plunge me into the pit, So that my own clothes will abhor me.

9:32  For He is not a man, as I am, that I may contend with him, And that we may go together into judgment;

9:33  There is no umpire between us, Who may lay his hand upon us both.

9:34  Let him take from me his rod, And not dismay me with his terrors,

9:35  Then I will speak, and not be afraid of him: For I am not so at heart.