Job’s Reply
9:1  Then Job answered and said,
9:2  I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?
9:3  If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.
9:4  He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?
9:5  Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.
9:6  Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.
9:7  Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.
9:8  Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.
9:9  Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.
9:10  Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.
9:11  Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.
9:12  Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?
9:13  If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.
9:14  How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?
9:15  Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.
9:16  If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.
9:17  For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.
9:18  He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.
9:19  If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?
9:20  If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.
9:21  Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
9:22  This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
9:23  If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.
9:24  The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?
9:25  Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.
9:26  They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.
9:27  If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:
9:28  I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
9:29  If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?
9:30  If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;
9:31  Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.
9:32  For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.
9:33  Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.
9:34  Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:
9:35  Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.