Job 9:1-26 ▼

1 And Job answered and said,

2 “Truly I know that it is so. But how can a man be righteous with God?

3 If one was delighted to contend with Him, he could not answer Him one time out of a thousand.

4 He is wise of heart and firm of strength; who has hardened himself against Him and been whole?

5 He moves the mountains, and they do not know when He overturns them in His anger.

6 He shakes the earth from its place, and its pillars shudder.

7 He speaks to the sun, and it does not rise, and He seals up the stars,

8 stretching out the heavens by himself, and treading upon the heights of the sea.

9 Making the Bear and Orion, and the Pleiades and the chambers of the south,

10 doing great things until there is no searching out, and wonders until there is no numbering.

11 Behold, He passes by over me, and I do not see Him; and He moves past, and I do not perceive Him.

12 Behold, He snatches away, and who will turn Him back? Who shall say to Him, ‘What are You doing?’

13 God will not turn aside His nose—beneath Him bowed the helpers of Rahab!

14 How then can I answer Him and choose my words with Him,

15 whom, if I were righteous, I could not answer; to my Judge I would plead for mercy.

16 If I called and He answered me, I could not believe that He gives ear to my voice—

17 He who crushes me with a tempest, and multiplies my wounds without cause.

18 He does not allow me to return my breath, but He fills me with bitterness.

19 If it is of power, behold, He is mighty; and if of justice, who can summon Him?

20 If I were righteous, my own mouth would declare me wicked; if I were blameless, then it would declare me perverse.

21 I am blameless; I do not know my soul; I despise my life.

22 It is one thing! And upon thus I say, ‘The blameless and the wicked He brings to an end.’

23 If the whip kills suddenly, He mocks the despair of the innocent.

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

25 So my days are swifter than a runner; they flee, not seeing good.

26 They pass by with ships of papyrus, like an eagle rushing upon its food.