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The Book of Job

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- Chapter 9 -

Job: There is no mediator

1
And Job, responding, said:
2
Truly, I know that it is so, and that man cannot be justified compared with God.
3
If he chooses to contend with him, he is not able to respond to him once out of a thousand times.
4
He is understanding in heart and mighty in strength; who has resisted him and yet had peace?
5
He has moved mountains, and those whom he overthrew in his fury did not know it.
6
He shakes the earth out of its place and its pillars tremble.
7
He commands the sun and it does not rise, and he closes the stars as if under a seal.
8
He alone extends the heavens, and he walks upon the waves of the sea.
9
He fashions Arcturus, and Orion, and Hyades, and the interior of the south.(a)
10
He accomplishes great and incomprehensible and miraculous things, which cannot be numbered.
11
If he approaches me, I will not see him; if he departs, I will not understand.
12
If he suddenly should question, who will answer him? Or who can say, “Why did you do so?”
13
God, whose wrath no one is able to resist, and under whom they bend who carry the world,
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what am I then, that I should answer him and exchange words with him?
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And if I now have any justice, I will not respond, but will beseech my judge.
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And if he should listen to me when I call, I would not believe that he had heard my voice.
17
For he will crush me in a whirlwind and multiply my wounds, even without cause.(b)
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He does not permit my spirit to rest, and he fills me with bitterness.
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If strength is sought, he is most strong; if equity in judgment, no one would dare to give testimony for me.
20
If I wanted to justify myself, my own mouth will condemn me; if I would reveal my innocence, he would prove me depraved.
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And if I now became simple, my soul would be ignorant even of this, and my life would weary me.
22
There is one thing that I have said: both the innocent and the impious he consumes.
23
If he scourges, let him kill all at once, and not laugh at the punishment of the innocent.
24
Since 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 it?
25
My days have been swifter than a messenger; they have fled and have not seen goodness.
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They have passed by like ships carrying fruits, just like an eagle flying to food.(c)
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If I say: “By no means will I speak this way.” I change my face and I am tortured with sorrow.
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I have dreaded all my works, knowing that you did not spare the offender.
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Yet, if I am also just as impious, why have I labored in vain?
30
If I had been washed with snow-like waters, and my hands were shining like the cleanest thing,
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yet you would plunge me in filth, and my own garments would abhor me.
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For even I would not answer a man who were like myself, nor one who could be heard with me equally in judgment.
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There is no one who could both prevail in argument and in placing his hand between the two.
34
Let him take his staff away from me, and let not the fear of him terrify me.
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I will speak and I will not fear him, for in fearfulness I am not able to respond.

Footnotes

(a)9:9 Arcturus, etc:These are names of stars or constellations. In Hebrew, Ash, Cesil, and Cimah. See note chap. 38, ver. 31.(Challoner)
(b)9:17 Without cause:That is, without my knowing the cause: or without any crime of mine.(Challoner)
(c)9:26 Ships carrying fruits must travel quickly and without delay, because fruit is perishable.(Conte)

Job: There is no mediator

1
Then Job answered,
2
“Truly I know that it is so, but how can man be just with God?
3
If he is pleased to contend with him, he can’t answer him one time in a thousand.
4
God is wise in heart, and mighty in strength. Who has hardened himself against him and prospered?
5
He removes the mountains, and they don’t know it, when he overturns them in his anger.
6
He shakes the earth out of its place. Its pillars tremble.
7
He commands the sun and it doesn’t rise, and seals up the stars.
8
He alone stretches out the heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea.
9
He makes the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the rooms of the south.
10
He does great things past finding out; yes, marvelous things without number.
11
Behold, he goes by me, and I don’t see him. He passes on also, but I don’t perceive him.
12
Behold, he snatches away. Who can hinder him? Who will ask him, ‘What are you doing?’
13
“God will not withdraw his anger. The helpers of Rahab stoop under him.
14
How much less will I answer him, and choose my words to argue with him?
15
Though I were righteous, yet I wouldn’t answer him. I would make supplication to my judge.
16
If I had called, and he had answered me, yet I wouldn’t believe that he listened to my voice.
17
For he breaks me with a storm, and multiplies my wounds without cause.
18
He will not allow me to catch my breath, but fills me with bitterness.
19
If it is a matter of strength, behold, he is mighty! If of justice, ‘Who,’ says he, ‘will summon me?’
20
Though I am righteous, my own mouth will condemn me. Though I am blameless, it will prove me perverse.
21
I am blameless. I don’t respect myself. I despise my life.
22
“It is all the same. Therefore I say he destroys the blameless and the wicked.
23
If the scourge kills suddenly, he will mock at the trial of the innocent.
24
The earth is given into the hand of the wicked. He covers the faces of its judges. If not he, then who is it?
25
“Now my days are swifter than a runner. They flee away. They see no good.
26
They have passed away as the swift ships, as the eagle that swoops on the prey.
27
If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad face, and cheer up,’
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I am afraid of all my sorrows. I know that you will not hold me innocent.
29
I will be condemned. Why then do I labor in vain?
30
If I wash myself with snow, and cleanse my hands with lye,
31
yet you will plunge me in the ditch. My own clothes will abhor me.
32
For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, that we should come together in judgment.
33
There is no umpire between us, that might lay his hand on us both.
34
Let him take his rod away from me. Let his terror not make me afraid;
35
then I would speak, and not fear him, for I am not so in myself.
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