Job 9
Job acknowledges God's immense power and wisdom, stating that no one can resist or justify themselves before Him. He feels that even if he were innocent, God would still condemn him, and that the innocent and the wicked are treated alike. Job expresses his frustration and despair, feeling that he has labored in vain and that God's ways are incomprehensible. He longs to speak freely to God without fear, but feels that God's power and majesty are overwhelming.
And Job, responding, saidTruly, I know that it is so, and that man cannot be justified compared with GodIf he chooses to contend with him, he is not able to respond to him once out of a thousand timesHe is understanding in heart and mighty in strength; who has resisted him and yet had peaceHe has moved mountains, and those whom he overthrew in his fury did not know itHe shakes the earth out of its place and its pillars trembleHe commands the sun and it does not rise, and he closes the stars as if under a sealHe alone extends the heavens, and he walks upon the waves of the seaHe fashions Arcturus, and Orion, and Hyades, and the interior of the southHe accomplishes great and incomprehensible and miraculous things, which cannot be numberedIf he approaches me, I will not see him; if he departs, I will not understandIf he suddenly should question, who will answer him? Or who can say, "Why did you do so?God, whose wrath no one is able to resist, and under whom they bend who carry the worldwhat am I then, that I should answer him and exchange words with himAnd if I now have any justice, I will not respond, but will beseech my judgeAnd if he should listen to me when I call, I would not believe that he had heard my voiceFor he will crush me in a whirlwind and multiply my wounds, even without causeHe does not permit my spirit to rest, and he fills me with bitternessIf strength is sought, he is most strong; if equity in judgment, no one would dare to give testimony for meIf I wanted to justify myself, my own mouth will condemn me; if I would reveal my innocence, he would prove me depravedAnd if I now became simple, my soul would be ignorant even of this, and my life would weary meThere is one thing that I have said: both the innocent and the impious he consumesIf he scourges, let him kill all at once, and not laugh at the punishment of the innocentSince the earth has been given into the hand of the impious, he covers the face of its judges; for if it is not him, then who is itMy days have been swifter than a messenger; they have fled and have not seen goodnessThey have passed by like ships carrying fruits, just like an eagle flying to foodIf I say: "By no means will I speak this way." I change my face and I am tortured with sorrowI have dreaded all my works, knowing that you did not spare the offenderYet, if I am also just as impious, why have I labored in vainIf I had been washed with snow-like waters, and my hands were shining like the cleanest thingyet you would plunge me in filth, and my own garments would abhor meFor even I would not answer a man who were like myself, nor one who could be heard with me equally in judgmentThere is no one who could both prevail in argument and in placing his hand between the twoLet him take his staff away from me, and let not the fear of him terrify meI will speak and I will not fear him, for in fearfulness I am not able to respond
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