Job 09 Job Confesses God's Justice and Asks for Relief from His Misery

 Job 09

Job Confesses God's Justice and Asks for Relief from His Misery

1 Then Job answered and said:

2 Of a truth I know that it is so; for how can a man be justified with God?

3 If he should strive with him, he cannot answer him one thing of a thousand.

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

5 He removeth the mountains, and they know not; and overturneth them in his wrath.

6 He removeth the earth out of her place, and its pillars tremble.

7 He speaketh to the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.

8 He alone stretcheth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the heights of the sea.

9 He maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.

10 Who does great things that cannot be fathomed, and wonders that cannot be counted.

11 Behold, he passes before me, and I do not see him; and he passes before me again, and I do not feel him.

12 Behold, he takes the prey; who will restore it? Who will say to him, 'What are you doing?'

13 God will not turn back his anger; proud helpers bow down beneath him.

14 How much less should I answer him or choose my words before him!

15 If I were righteous, I would not answer him; but I would ask mercy of my Judge.

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

17 For he breaks me with a storm, and multiplies my wounds without cause.

18 He does not let me breathe, but fills me with bitterness. 

19 As for strength, behold, he is the strong one; and as for judgment, who will adduce me with him? 

20 If I justify myself, my mouth will condemn me; if I say I am righteous, then it will declare me wicked. 

21 Though I am perfect, I do not esteem my soul; I despise my life. 

22 This is the matter; therefore I say that he consumes the righteous and the wicked. 

23 When the scourge slays suddenly, then he laughs at the trial of the innocent. 

24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; he covers the face of the judges; if it is not he, who is? 

25 And my days are swifter than a post; they have fled, and have never seen good. 

26 They pass away like sailing ships, like an eagle swooping down on its prey. 

27 If I say, "I will forget my complaint," I will change my face, and take courage; 

28 I fear all my sorrows, for I know that you will not hold me guiltless.

29 And since I am wicked, why should I labor in vain?

30 Though I wash myself with snow water and make my hands clean with soap,

31 Yet you will plunge me into the ditch, and my own clothes will abhor me.

32 For he is not a man like me, to whom I answer, I divide the judgment together.

33 There is no umpire between us who can lay his hand between us.

34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his terror terrify me.

35 Then I will speak, and will not be afraid of him, for I am not in myself.