Job 9
1599 Geneva Bible
9 2 Job declareth the mighty power of God, and that man’s righteousness is nothing.
1 Then Job answered, and said,
2 I know verily that it is so: for how should man compared unto God, be [a]justified?
3 If he would dispute with him, he could not answer him one thing of [b]thousand.
4 He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath been fierce against him, and hath prospered?
5 He removeth the mountains, and they feel not when he overthroweth them in his wrath.
6 He [c]removeth the earth out of her place, that the pillars thereof do shake.
7 He commandeth the Sun, and it riseth not: he closeth up the stars, as under a signet.
8 He himself alone spreadeth out the heavens, and walketh upon the height of the Sea.
9 He maketh the stars [d]Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the climates of the South.
10 He doeth great things, and unsearchable: yea, marvelous things without number.
11 Lo, when he goeth [e]by me, I see him not: and when he passeth by, I perceive him not:
12 Behold, when he taketh a prey, [f]who can make him to restore it? who shall say unto him, What doest thou?
13 God [g]will not withdraw his anger, and the most mighty helpers [h]do stoop under him.
14 How much less shall I answer him? or how should I find out [i]my words with him?
15 For though I were just, yet could I [j]not answer, but I would make supplication to my Judge.
16 If I [k]cry, and he answer me, yet would I not believe, that he heard my voice.
17 For he destroyeth me with a tempest, and woundeth me [l]without cause.
18 He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.
19 If we speak of strength, behold, he is [m]strong: if we speak of judgment, who shall bring me in to plead?
20 If I should justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: [n]if I would be perfect, he shall judge me wicked.
21 Though I were perfect, yet I know not my soul: therefore abhor I my life.
22 This is one point: therefore I said, He destroyeth the [o]perfect and the wicked.
23 If the scourge should suddenly [p]slay, should God [q]laugh at the punishment of the innocent?
24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: [r]he covereth the faces of the judges thereof: if not, where [s]is he? or who is he?
25 My days have been more swift than a post: they have fled, and have seen no good thing.
26 They are passed as with the most swift ships, and as the Eagle that flieth to the prey.
27 If [t]I say, I will forget my complaint, I will cease from my wrath, and comfort me,
28 Then I am afraid of all my sorrows, knowing that thou wilt not judge me innocent.
29 If I be wicked, why [u]labor I thus in vain?
30 If I wash [v]myself with snow water, and purge mine hands most clean,
31 Yet shalt thou plunge me in the pit, and mine own [w]clothes shall make me filthy.
32 For he is not a man as I am, that I should answer him, if we come together to judgment.
33 Neither is there any umpire [x]that might lay his hand upon us both.
34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear astonish me:
35 Then will I speak, and fear him not: [y]but because I am not so, I hold me still.
Footnotes
- Job 9:2 Job here answereth to that point of Eliphaz and Bildad’s oration, touching the justice of God, and his innocency, confessing God to be infinite in justice, and man to be nothing in respect.
- Job 9:3 Of a thousand things, which God could lay to his charge, man cannot answer him one.
- Job 9:6 He declareth what is the infirmity of man, by the mighty and incomprehensible power that is in God, showing what he could do if he would set forth his power.
- Job 9:9 These are the names of certain stars whereby he meaneth that all stars both known and unknown are at his appointment.
- Job 9:11 I am not able to comprehend his works, which are common and daily before my eyes, much less in those things, which are hid and secret.
- Job 9:12 He showeth that when God doth execute his power, he doeth it justly, forasmuch as none can control him.
- Job 9:13 God will not be appeased for ought that man can say for himself for his justification.
- Job 9:13 That is, all the reasons that men can lay to approve their cause.
- Job 9:14 How should I be able to answer him by eloquence? whereby he noteth his friends, that albeit they were eloquent in talk, yet they felt not in heart, that which they spake.
- Job 9:15 Meaning, in his own opinion, signifying, that man will sometimes flatter himself to be righteous, which before God is abomination.
- Job 9:16 While I am in my pangs, I cannot but burst forth into many inconveniences, although I know still that God is just.
- Job 9:17 I am not able to feel my sins so great, as I feel the weight of his plagues; and this he speaketh to condemn his dullness, and to justify God.
- Job 9:19 After he hath accused his own weakness, he continueth to justify God and his power.
- Job 9:20 If I would stand in mine own defense, yet God hath just cause to condemn me, if he examine mine heart and conscience.
- Job 9:22 If God punish according to his justice, he will destroy as well them, that are counted perfect as them that are wicked.
- Job 9:23 To wit, the wicked.
- Job 9:23 This is spoken according to our apprehension, as though he would say, If God destroy but the wicked, as Job 5:3, why should he suffer the innocent to be so long tormented by them?
- Job 9:24 That they cannot see to do justice.
- Job 9:24 That can show the contrary?
- Job 9:27 I think not to fall into these afflictions, but my sorrows bring me to these manifold infirmities, and my conscience condemneth me.
- Job 9:29 Why doth not God destroy me at once? thus he speaketh according to the infirmity of the flesh.
- Job 9:30 Though I seem never so pure in mine own eyes, yet all is but corruption before God.
- Job 9:31 Whatsoever I would use to cover my filthiness with, shall disclose me so much more.
- Job 9:33 Which might make an accord between God and me, speaking of impatience, and yet confessing God to be just in punishing him.
- Job 9:35 Signifying that God’s judgments keep him in awe.
Job 9
King James Version
9 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 hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?
5 Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.
6 Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.
7 Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.
8 Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.
9 Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.
10 Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.
11 Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.
12 Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?
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 hearkened unto my voice.
17 For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.
18 He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.
19 If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?
20 If I justify myself, mine 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 destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
23 If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.
24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth 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 hasteth 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 thou wilt not hold me innocent.
29 If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?
30 If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;
31 Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine 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 daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon 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.
Job 9
English Standard Version
Job Replies: There Is No Arbiter
9 Then Job answered and said:
2 “Truly I know that it is so:
But how can a man be (A)in the right before God?
3 If one wished to (B)contend with him,
one could not answer him once in a thousand times.
4 He is (C)wise in heart and mighty in strength—
who has (D)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 (E)shakes the earth out of its place,
and (F)its pillars tremble;
7 who commands the sun, and it does not rise;
who seals up the stars;
8 who alone (G)stretched out the heavens
and trampled the waves of the sea;
9 who (H)made (I)the Bear and (J)Orion,
the Pleiades (K)and the chambers of the south;
10 who does (L)great things beyond searching out,
and marvelous things beyond number.
11 Behold, he passes by me, and I (M)see him not;
he moves on, but I do not perceive him.
12 Behold, he snatches away; (N)who can turn him back?
(O)Who will say to him, ‘What are you doing?’
13 “God will not turn back his anger;
beneath him bowed the helpers of (P)Rahab.
14 (Q)How then can I (R)answer him,
choosing my words with him?
15 (S)Though I am in the right, I cannot answer him;
I must (T)appeal for mercy to my accuser.[a]
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 (U)without cause;
18 he will not let me get my breath,
but fills me with bitterness.
19 If it is a contest of (V)strength, behold, he is mighty!
If it is a matter of justice, who can (W)summon him?[b]
20 Though I am in the right, (X)my own mouth would condemn me;
though I am blameless, he would prove me perverse.
21 I am (Y)blameless; I regard not myself;
I (Z)loathe my life.
22 It is all one; therefore I say,
‘He (AA)destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’
23 When (AB)disaster brings sudden death,
he mocks at the calamity[c] of the innocent.
24 (AC)The earth is given into the hand of the wicked;
he (AD)covers the faces of its judges—
(AE)if it is not he, who then is it?
25 “My (AF)days are swifter than (AG)a runner;
they flee away; they see no good.
26 They go by like (AH)skiffs of reed,
like (AI)an eagle swooping on the prey.
27 If I say, (AJ)‘I will forget my complaint,
I will put off my sad face, and (AK)be of good cheer,’
28 I become (AL)afraid of all my suffering,
for I know you will not (AM)hold me innocent.
29 I shall be (AN)condemned;
why then do I labor in vain?
30 If I wash myself with snow
and (AO)cleanse my hands with lye,
31 yet you will plunge me into a pit,
and my own clothes will (AP)abhor me.
32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I might answer him,
that we should (AQ)come to trial together.
33 (AR)There is no[d] arbiter between us,
who might lay his hand on us both.
34 (AS)Let him take his (AT)rod away from me,
and let (AU)not dread of him terrify me.
35 Then I would speak without fear of him,
for I am not so in myself.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
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