Job 9 — American Standard Version

Then Job answered and said,● Of a truth I know that it is so: But how can man be just with God?● If he be pleased to contend with him, He cannot answer him one of a thousand.● `He is' wise in heart, and mighty in strength: Who hath hardened himself against him, and prospered?-● `Him' that removeth the mountains, and they know it not, When he overturneth them in his anger;● That shaketh the earth out of its place, And the pillars thereof tremble;● That commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, And sealeth up the stars;● That alone stretcheth out the heavens, And treadeth upon the waves of the sea;● That maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the chambers of the south;● That doeth great things past finding out, Yea, marvellous things without number.● Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: He passeth on also, but I perceive him not.● Behold, he seizeth `the prey', who can hinder him? Who will say unto him, What doest thou?● God will not withdraw his anger; The helpers of Rahab do stoop under him.● How much less shall I answer him, And choose out my words `to reason' with him?● Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer; I would make supplication to my judge.● If I had called, and he had answered me, Yet would I not believe that he hearkened unto my voice.● For he breaketh me with a tempest, And multiplieth my wounds without cause.● He will not suffer me to take my breath, But filleth me with bitterness.● If `we speak' of strength, lo, `he is' mighty! And if of justice, Who, `saith he', will summon me?● Though I be righteous, mine own mouth shall condemn me: Though I be perfect, it shall prove me perverse.● I am perfect; I regard not myself; I despise my life.● It is all one; therefore I say, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.● If the scourge slay suddenly, He will mock at the trial of the innocent.● 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?● Now my days are swifter than a post: They flee away, they see no good,● They are passed away as the swift ships; As the eagle that swoopeth on the prey.● If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will put off my `sad' countenance, and be of good cheer;● I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.● I shall be condemned; Why then do I labor in vain?● If I wash myself with snow water, And make my hands never so clean;● Yet wilt thou plunge me in the ditch, And mine own clothes shall abhor me.● For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, That we should come together in judgment.● There is no umpire betwixt us, That might lay his hand upon us both.● Let him take his rod away from me, And let not his terror make me afraid:● Then would I speak, and not fear him; For I am not so in myself.●