Job 9
1 Then Job answered and said, 2 I know
it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God? 3 If he will
contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand. 4 He is wise
in heart, and mighty in strength: who has hardened himself against him,
and has prospered? 5 Which removes the mountains, and they know not:
which overturns them in his anger. 6 Which shakes the earth out of her
place, and the pillars thereof tremble. 7 Which commands the sun, and it
rises not; and seals up the stars. 8 Which alone spreads out the
heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea. 9 Which makes Arcturus,
Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south. 10 Which does great
things past finding out; yes, and wonders without number. 11 See, he
goes by me, and I see him not: he passes on also, but I perceive him
not. 12 Behold, he takes away, who can hinder him? who will say to him,
What do you? 13 If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do
stoop under him. 14 How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my
words to reason with him? 15 Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I
not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge. 16 If I had
called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had
listened to my voice. 17 For he breaks me with a tempest, and multiplies
my wounds without cause. 18 He will not suffer me to take my breath, but
fills me with bitterness. 19 If I speak of strength, see, he is strong:
and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead? 20 If I justify
myself, my own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall
also prove me perverse. 21 Though I were perfect, yet would I not know
my soul: I would despise my life. 22 This is one thing, therefore I said
it, He destroys the perfect and the wicked. 23 If the whip slay
suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent. 24 The earth is
given into the hand of the wicked: he covers the faces of the judges
thereof; if not, where, and who is he? 25 Now my days are swifter than a
post: they flee away, they see no good. 26 They are passed away as the
swift ships: as the eagle that hastens to the prey. 27 If I say, I will
forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:
28 I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that you will not hold me
innocent. 29 If I be wicked, why then labor I in vain? 30 If I wash
myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean; 31 Yet shall
you plunge me in the ditch, and my own clothes shall abhor me. 32 For he
is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come
together in judgment. 33 Neither is there any judge between us, that
might lay his hand on us both. 34 Let him take his rod away from me, and
let not his fear terrify me: 35 Then would I speak, and not fear him;
but it is not so with me. (AKJV)
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