9:1 Then Job answered and said: 9:2 "Truly I know that it is so: But how can a man be in the right before God 9:3 If one wished to contend with him, one could not answer him once in a thousand times. 9:4 He is wise in heart and mighty in strength--who has hardened himself against him, and succeeded-- 9:5 he who removes mountains, and they know it not, when he overturns them in his anger, 9:6 who shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble; 9:7 who commands the sun, and it does not rise; who seals up the stars; 9:8 who alone stretched out the heavens and trampled the waves of the sea; 9:9 who made the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the chambers of the south; 9:10 who does great things beyond searching out, and marvelous things beyond number. 9:11 Behold, he passes by me, and I see him not; he moves on, but I do not perceive him. 9:12 Behold, he snatches away; who can turn him back Who will say to him, 'What are you doing' 9:13 "God will not turn back his anger; beneath him bowed the helpers of Rahab. 9:14 How then can I answer him, choosing my words with him 9:15 Though I am in the right, I cannot answer him; I must appeal for mercy to my accuser. 9:16 If I summoned him and he answered me, I would not believe that he was listening to my voice. 9:17 For he crushes me with a tempest and multiplies my wounds without cause; 9:18 he will not let me get my breath, but fills me with bitterness. 9:19 If it is a contest of strength, behold, he is mighty! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon him 9:20 Though I am in the right, my own mouth would condemn me; though I am blameless, he would prove me perverse. 9:21 I am blameless; I regard not myself; I loathe my life. 9:22 It is all one; therefore I say, He destroys both the blameless and the wicked. 9:23 When disaster brings sudden death, he mocks at the calamity of the innocent. 9:24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; he covers the faces of its judges-- if it is not he, who then is it 9:25 "My days are swifter than a runner; they flee away; they see no good. 9:26 They go by like skiffs of reed, like an eagle swooping on the prey. 9:27 If I say, 'I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad face, and be of good cheer,' 9:28 I become afraid of all my suffering, for I know you will not hold me innocent. 9:29 I shall be condemned; why then do I labor in vain 9:30 If I wash myself with snow and cleanse my hands with lye, 9:31 yet you will plunge me into a pit, and my own clothes will abhor me. 9:32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I might answer him, that we should come to trial together. 9:33 There is no arbiter between us, who might lay his hand on us both. 9:34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not dread of him terrify me. 9:35 Then I would speak without fear of him, for I am not so in myself.