Job 9:1-21 ▼

1 Then Job answered and said:

2 “Truly I know that it is so: But how can a man be in the right before God?

3 If one wished to contend with him, one could not answer him once in a thousand times.

4 He is wise in heart and mighty in strength—who has hardened himself against him, and succeeded?—

5 he who removes mountains, and they know it not, when he overturns them in his anger,

6 who shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble;

7 who commands the sun, and it does not rise; who seals up the stars;

8 who alone stretched out the heavens and trampled the waves of the sea;

9 who made the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the chambers of the south;

10 who does great things beyond searching out, and marvelous things beyond number.

11 Behold, he passes by me, and I see him not; he moves on, but I do not perceive him.

12 Behold, he snatches away; who can turn him back? Who will say to him, ‘What are you doing?’

13 “God will not turn back his anger; beneath him bowed the helpers of Rahab.

14 How then can I answer him, choosing my words with him?

15 Though I am in the right, I cannot answer him; I must appeal for mercy to my accuser.

16 If I summoned him and he answered me, I would not believe that he was listening to my voice.

17 For he crushes me with a tempest and multiplies my wounds without cause;

18 he will not let me get my breath, but fills me with bitterness.

19 If it is a contest of strength, behold, he is mighty! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon him?

20 Though I am in the right, my own mouth would condemn me; though I am blameless, he would prove me perverse.

21 I am blameless; I regard not myself; I loathe my life.