Book of Job, Chapter 9
Job 9 ASV - American Standard VersionChapter 9 of Job—American Standard Version (ASV)
- ¶ Then Job answered and said,
- ¶ Of a truth I know that it is so:
¶ [a]But how can man be just [b]with God? - ¶ [c]If he be pleased to 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 prospered?— - ¶ Him that removeth the mountains, and they know it not,
¶ When he overturneth them in his anger; - ¶ That shaketh the earth out of its place,
¶ And the pillars thereof tremble; - ¶ That commandeth the sun, and it riseth not,
¶ And sealeth up the stars; - ¶ That alone stretcheth out the heavens,
¶ And treadeth upon the [d]waves of the sea; - ¶ That maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades,
¶ And the chambers of the south; - ¶ That doeth great things past finding out,
¶ Yea, marvellous things without number. - ¶ Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not:
¶ He passeth on also, but I perceive him not. - ¶ Behold, he seizeth the prey, who can [e]hinder him?
¶ Who will say unto him, What doest thou? - ¶ God will not withdraw his anger;
¶ The helpers of [f]1Rahab [g]do stoop under him. - ¶ 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;
¶ I would make supplication to my judge. - ¶ If I had called, and he had answered me,
¶ Yet would I not believe that he hearkened unto my voice. - ¶ [h]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 we speak of strength, [i]lo, he is mighty!
¶ And if of justice, Who, saith he, will summon me? - ¶ Though I be righteous, mine own mouth shall condemn me:
¶ Though I be perfect, [j]it shall prove me perverse. - ¶ [k]I am perfect; I regard not myself;
¶ I despise my life. - ¶ It is all one; therefore I say,
¶ He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked. - ¶ If the scourge slay suddenly,
¶ He will mock at the [l]trial of the innocent. - ¶ The earth is given into the hand of the wicked;
¶ He covereth the faces of the judges thereof:
¶ If it be not he, who then is it? - ¶ Now my days are swifter than a [m]post:
¶ They flee away, they see no good. - ¶ They are passed away as the [n]swift ships;
¶ As the eagle that swoopeth on the prey. - ¶ If I say, I will forget my complaint,
¶ I will put off my sad countenance, and [o]be of good cheer; - ¶ I am afraid of all my sorrows,
¶ I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent. - ¶ I shall be condemned;
¶ Why then do I labor in vain? - ¶ If I wash myself [p]with snow water,
¶ And [q]make my hands never so clean; - ¶ Yet wilt thou plunge me in the ditch,
¶ And mine own clothes shall 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 betwixt us,
¶ That might lay his hand upon us both. - ¶ Let him take his rod away from me,
¶ And let not his terror make me afraid: - ¶ Then would I speak, and not fear him;
¶ For I am not so in myself.
FOOTNOTES
- ^ Or, For
- ^ Or, before
- ^ Or, If one should desire . . . He could not etc.
- ^ Hebrew high places.
- ^ Or, turn him back
- ^ Or, arrogancy. See Isa. 30:7.
- ^ Or, did
- ^ Hebrew He who.
- ^ Or, Lo, here am I, saith he; And if of judgement, Who etc.
- ^ Or, he
- ^ Or, Though I be perfect, I will not regard etc.
- ^ Or, calamity
- ^ Or, runner
- ^ Hebrew ships of reed.
- ^ Hebrew brighten up.
- ^ Another reading is, with snow.
- ^ Hebrew cleanse my hands with lye.
REFERENCES
- ^ Is 30:7
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