The Book of Job

⭑ King James Version :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

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- Chapter 9 -

Job: There is no mediator

Then Job answered and said,

I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?(a)

If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.

He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?

Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.

Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.

Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.

Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.(b)

Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.(c)

Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.

Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.

Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?(d)

If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.(e)

How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?

Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.

If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.

For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.

He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.

If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?

If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.

Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.

This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.

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?

Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.

They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.(f)

If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:

I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.

If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?

If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;

Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.(g)

For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.

Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.(h)

(i)

Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:

Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.(j)

Footnotes

(a)9:2 with God: or, before God?

(b)9:8 waves: Heb. heights

(d)9:12 hinder…: Heb. turn him away?

(e)9:13 proud…: Heb. helpers of pride, or, strength

(f)9:26 swift…: or, ships of Ebeh: Heb. ships of desire

(g)9:31 abhor…: or, make me to be abhorred

(h)9:33 any…: Heb. one that should argue

(i)9:33 daysman: or, umpire

(j)9:35 it is…: Heb. I am not so with myself

Job: There is no mediator

Then Job answered,

“Truly I know that it is so, but how can man be just with God?

If he is pleased to contend with him, he can’t answer him one time in a thousand.

God is wise in heart, and mighty in strength. Who has hardened himself against him and prospered?

He removes the mountains, and they don’t know it, when he overturns them in his anger.

He shakes the earth out of its place. Its pillars tremble.

He commands the sun and it doesn’t rise, and seals up the stars.

He alone stretches out the heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea.

He makes the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the rooms of the south.

He does great things past finding out; yes, marvelous things without number.

Behold, he goes by me, and I don’t see him. He passes on also, but I don’t perceive him.

Behold, he snatches away. Who can hinder him? Who will ask him, ‘What are you doing?’

“God will not withdraw his anger. The helpers of Rahab stoop under him.

How much less will I answer him, and choose my words to argue with him?

Though I were righteous, yet I wouldn’t answer him. I would make supplication to my judge.

If I had called, and he had answered me, yet I wouldn’t believe that he listened to my voice.

For he breaks me with a storm, and multiplies my wounds without cause.

He will not allow me to catch my breath, but fills me with bitterness.

If it is a matter of strength, behold, he is mighty! If of justice, ‘Who,’ says he, ‘will summon me?’

Though I am righteous, my own mouth will condemn me. Though I am blameless, it will prove me perverse.

I am blameless. I don’t respect myself. I despise my life.

“It is all the same. Therefore I say he destroys the blameless and the wicked.

If the scourge kills suddenly, he will mock at the trial of the innocent.

The earth is given into the hand of the wicked. He covers the faces of its judges. If not he, then who is it?

“Now my days are swifter than a runner. They flee away. They see no good.

They have passed away as the swift ships, as the eagle that swoops on the prey.

If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad face, and cheer up,’

I am afraid of all my sorrows. I know that you will not hold me innocent.

I will be condemned. Why then do I labor in vain?

If I wash myself with snow, and cleanse my hands with lye,

yet you will plunge me in the ditch. My own clothes will abhor me.

For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, that we should come together in judgment.

There is no umpire between us, that might lay his hand on us both.

Let him take his rod away from me. Let his terror not make me afraid;

then I would speak, and not fear him, for I am not so in myself.