Job 9 — God's Unanswerable Power and Job's Dilemma

1Then Job answered and said,💡

2Of a truth I know that it is so: But how can man be just with God?💡

3If he be pleased to contend with him, He cannot answer him one of a thousand.💡

4He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: Who hath hardened himself against him, and prospered? --💡

5Him that removeth the mountains, and they know it not, When he overturneth them in his anger;💡

6That shaketh the earth out of its place, And the pillars thereof tremble;💡

7That commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, And sealeth up the stars;💡

8That alone stretcheth out the heavens, And treadeth upon the waves of the sea;💡

9That maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the chambers of the south;💡

10That doeth great things past finding out, Yea, marvellous things without number.💡

11Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: He passeth on also, but I perceive him not.💡

12Behold, he seizeth the prey, who can hinder him? Who will say unto him, What doest thou?💡

13God will not withdraw his anger; The helpers of Rahab do stoop under him.💡

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

15Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer; I would make supplication to my judge.💡

16If I had called, and he had answered me, Yet would I not believe that he hearkened unto my voice.💡

17For he breaketh me with a tempest, And multiplieth my wounds without cause.💡

18He will not suffer me to take my breath, But filleth me with bitterness.💡

19If we speak of strength, lo, he is mighty! And if of justice, Who, saith he, will summon me?💡

20Though I be righteous, mine own mouth shall condemn me: Though I be perfect, it shall prove me perverse.💡

21I am perfect; I regard not myself; I despise my life.💡

22It is all one; therefore I say, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.💡

23If the scourge slay suddenly, He will mock at the trial of the innocent.💡

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?💡

25Now my days are swifter than a post: They flee away, they see no good,💡

26They are passed away as the swift ships; As the eagle that swoopeth on the prey.💡

27If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad countenance, and be of good cheer;💡

28I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.💡

29I shall be condemned; Why then do I labor in vain?💡

30If I wash myself with snow water, And make my hands never so clean;💡

31Yet wilt thou plunge me in the ditch, And mine own clothes shall abhor me.💡

32For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, That we should come together in judgment.💡

33There is no umpire betwixt us, That might lay his hand upon us both.💡

34Let him take his rod away from me, And let not his terror make me afraid:💡

35Then would I speak, and not fear him; For I am not so in myself.💡