Job 9

¹ Job spoke next. He said:

² Indeed, I know it is as you say: how can man be in the right against God?

³ If any were so rash as to challenge him for reasons, one in a thousand would be more than they could answer.

⁴ His heart is wise, and his strength is great: who then can successfully defy him?

⁵ He moves the mountains, though they do not know it; he throws them down when he is angry.

⁶ He shakes the earth, and moves it from its place, making all its pillars tremble.

⁷ The sun, at his command, forbears to rise, and on the stars he sets a seal.

⁸ He and no other stretched out the skies, and trampled the Sea’s tall waves.

⁹ The Bear, Orion too, are of his making, the Pleiades and the Mansions of the South.

¹⁰ His works are great, beyond all reckoning, his marvels, past all counting.

¹¹ Were he to pass me, I should not see him, nor detect his stealthy movement.

¹² Were he to snatch a prize, who could prevent him, or dare to say, ‘What are you doing?’

¹³ God never goes back on his anger, Rahab’s minions still lie at his feet.[*a]

¹⁴ How dare I plead my cause, then, or choose arguments against him?

¹⁵ Suppose I am in the right, what use is my defence? For he whom I must sue is judge as well.

¹⁶ If he deigned to answer my citation, could I be sure that he would listen to my voice?

¹⁷ He, who for one hair crushes me, who, for no reason, wounds and wounds again,

¹⁸ leaving me not a moment to draw breath, with so much bitterness he fills me.

¹⁹ Shall I try force? Look how strong he is! Or go to court? But who will summon him?

²⁰ Though I think myself right, his mouth may condemn me; though I count myself innocent, it may declare me a hypocrite.

²¹ But am I innocent after all? Not even I know that, and, as for my life, I find it hateful.

²² It is all one, and this I dare to say: innocent and guilty, he destroys all alike.

²³ When a sudden deadly scourge descends, he laughs at the plight of the innocent.

²⁴ When a country falls into a tyrant’s hand, it is he who blindfolds the judges. Or if not he, who else?

²⁵ My days run hurrying by, seeing no happiness in their flight,

²⁶ skimming along like a reed canoe, or the flight of an eagle after its prey.

²⁷ If I resolve to stifle my moans, change countenance, and wear a smiling face,

²⁸ fear comes over me, at the thought of all I suffer, for such, I know, is not your treatment of the innocent.

²⁹ And if I am guilty, why should I put myself to useless trouble?

³⁰ No use to wash myself with snow, or bleach my hands pure white;

³¹ for you will plunge me in dung until my very clothes recoil from me.

³² Yes, I am man, and he is not; and so no argument, no suit between the two of us is possible.

³³ There is no arbiter between us, to lay his hand on both,

³⁴ to stay his rod from me, or keep away his daunting terrors.

³⁵ Nonetheless, I shall speak, not fearing him: I do not see myself like that at all.