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.
1And Job, responding, said2Truly, I know that it is so, and that man cannot be justified compared with God3If he chooses to contend with him, he is not able to respond to him once out of a thousand times4He is understanding in heart and mighty in strength; who has resisted him and yet had peace5He has moved mountains, and those whom he overthrew in his fury did not know it6He shakes the earth out of its place and its pillars tremble7He commands the sun and it does not rise, and he closes the stars as if under a seal8He alone extends the heavens, and he walks upon the waves of the sea9He fashions Arcturus, and Orion, and Hyades, and the interior of the south10He accomplishes great and incomprehensible and miraculous things, which cannot be numbered11If he approaches me, I will not see him; if he departs, I will not understand12If he suddenly should question, who will answer him? Or who can say, "Why did you do so?13God, whose wrath no one is able to resist, and under whom they bend who carry the world14what am I then, that I should answer him and exchange words with him15And if I now have any justice, I will not respond, but will beseech my judge16And if he should listen to me when I call, I would not believe that he had heard my voice17For he will crush me in a whirlwind and multiply my wounds, even without cause18He does not permit my spirit to rest, and he fills me with bitterness19If strength is sought, he is most strong; if equity in judgment, no one would dare to give testimony for me20If I wanted to justify myself, my own mouth will condemn me; if I would reveal my innocence, he would prove me depraved21And if I now became simple, my soul would be ignorant even of this, and my life would weary me22There is one thing that I have said: both the innocent and the impious he consumes23If he scourges, let him kill all at once, and not laugh at the punishment of the innocent24Since 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 it25My days have been swifter than a messenger; they have fled and have not seen goodness26They have passed by like ships carrying fruits, just like an eagle flying to food27If I say: "By no means will I speak this way." I change my face and I am tortured with sorrow28I have dreaded all my works, knowing that you did not spare the offender29Yet, if I am also just as impious, why have I labored in vain30If I had been washed with snow-like waters, and my hands were shining like the cleanest thing31yet you would plunge me in filth, and my own garments would abhor me32For even I would not answer a man who were like myself, nor one who could be heard with me equally in judgment33There is no one who could both prevail in argument and in placing his hand between the two34Let him take his staff away from me, and let not the fear of him terrify me35I will speak and I will not fear him, for in fearfulness I am not able to respond
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