Job 9:1-21 ▼

1 THEN Job answered and said,

2 Truly, I know that it is so; but how can a man be declared innocent before God?

3 If he should contend with him, he cannot answer him one out of a thousand.

4 He is wise in heart and mighty in strength; who has hardened himself against him, and had peace?

5 He who removes mountains and overthrows them with his anger, does he not know?

6 He shakes the earth out of its foundations, and its inhabitants tremble.

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

8 He alone stretched out the heavens, and treads upon the mighty waves of the sea.

9 He made the Pleiades, Aldebaran, and Orion, and the chambers of the south.

10 He has done great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.

11 Lo, if he will pass by me, I will see him not; and if he will circle around me, I will not perceive him.

12 Behold, if he will destroy, who can resist him? Who can say to him, What doest thou?

13 God will not turn away his anger, the mighty shall be humiliated under him.

14 I will answer him also, and choose out my words in his presence.

15 If I am not justified I would not resist, but I would make supplication to my judge.

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

17 For he has crushed me with a tempest, and multiplied my wounds without cause.

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

19 If it is a matter of strength, lo, he is mighty; and if of judgment, who can summon him?

20 If I justify myself, my own mouth shall condemn me; though I say I am pure, he shall also prove me perverse.

21 Though I am pure, yet I would not know my soul; I would despise my life.