The Book of Job

9:1 Then Job answered and said,

 ^9:2Of a truth I know that it is so:

 But how can man be just with God?

 ^9:3If he be pleased to contend with him,

 He cannot answer him one of a thousand.

 ^9:4He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength:

 Who hath hardened himself against him, and prospered?-

 ^9:5Him that removeth the mountains, and they know it not,

 When he overturneth them in his anger;

 ^9:6That shaketh the earth out of its place,

 And the pillars thereof tremble;

 ^9:7That commandeth the sun, and it riseth not,

 And sealeth up the stars;

 ^9:8That alone stretcheth out the heavens,

 And treadeth upon the waves of the sea;

 ^9:9That maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades,

 And the chambers of the south;

 ^9:10That doeth great things past finding out,

 Yea, marvellous things without number.

 ^9:11Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not:

 He passeth on also, but I perceive him not.

 ^9:12Behold, he seizeth the prey, who can hinder him?

 Who will say unto him, What doest thou?
 
 

 ^9:13God will not withdraw his anger;

 The helpers of Rahab do stoop under him.

 ^9:14How much less shall I answer him,

 And choose out my words to reason with him?

 ^9:15Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer;

 I would make supplication to my judge.

 ^9:16If I had called, and he had answered me,

 Yet would I not believe that he hearkened unto my voice.

 ^9:17For he breaketh me with a tempest,

 And multiplieth my wounds without cause.

 ^9:18He will not suffer me to take my breath,

 But filleth me with bitterness.

 ^9:19If we speak of strength, lo, he is mighty!

 And if of justice, Who, saith he, will summon me?

 ^9:20Though I be righteous, mine own mouth shall condemn me:

 Though I be perfect, it shall prove me perverse.

 ^9:21I am perfect; I regard not myself;

 I despise my life.

 ^9:22It is all one; therefore I say,

 He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

 ^9:23If the scourge slay suddenly,

 He will mock at the trial of the innocent.

 ^9:24The 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?
 
 

 ^9:25Now my days are swifter than a post:

 They flee away, they see no good,

 ^9:26They are passed away as the swift ships;

 As the eagle that swoopeth on the prey.

 ^9:27If I say, I will forget my complaint,

 I will put off my sad countenance, and be of good cheer;

 ^9:28I am afraid of all my sorrows,

 I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.

 ^9:29I shall be condemned;

 Why then do I labor in vain?

 ^9:30If I wash myself with snow water,

 And make my hands never so clean;

 ^9:31Yet wilt thou plunge me in the ditch,

 And mine own clothes shall abhor me.

 ^9:32For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him,

 That we should come together in judgment.

 ^9:33There is no umpire betwixt us,

 That might lay his hand upon us both.

 ^9:34Let him take his rod away from me,

 And let not his terror make me afraid:

 ^9:35Then would I speak, and not fear him;

 For I am not so in myself.