Job 9:1-21 ▼

1 Then Job answered:

2 “Indeed I know that this is so; but how can a mortal be just before God?

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

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

5 he who removes mountains, and they do not know it, 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 understanding, and marvelous things without number.

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

12 He snatches away; who can stop him? Who will say to him, ‘What are you doing?’

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

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

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

16 If I summoned him and he answered me, I do not believe that he would listen 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, he is the strong one! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon him?

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

21 I am blameless; I do not know myself; I loathe my life.