1901 American Standard Version (ASV)

Job 9

1 Job, acknowledging God's justice, sheweth there is no contending with him. 22 Man's innocency is not to be condemned by afflictions.

 9:1 ¶ Then Job answered and said,

 9:2 Of a truth I know that it is so: But how can man be just with God?

 9:3 If he be pleased to contend with him, He cannot answer him one of a thousand.

 9:4 [He is] wise in heart, and mighty in strength: Who hath hardened himself against him, and prospered? --

 9:5 [Him] that removeth the mountains, and they know it not, When he overturneth them in his anger;

 9:6 That shaketh the earth out of its place, And the pillars thereof tremble;

 9:7 That commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, And sealeth up the stars;

 9:8 That alone stretcheth out the heavens, And treadeth upon the waves of the sea;

 9:9 That maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the chambers of the south;

 9:10 That doeth great things past finding out, Yea, marvellous things without number.

 9:11 Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: He passeth on also, but I perceive him not.

 9:12 Behold, he seizeth [the prey], who can hinder him? Who will say unto him, What doest thou?

 9:13 God will not withdraw his anger; The helpers of Rahab do stoop under him.

 9:14 How much less shall I answer him, And choose out my words [to reason] with him?

 9:15 Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer; I would make supplication to my judge.

 9:16 If I had called, and he had answered me, Yet would I not believe that he hearkened unto my voice.

 9:17 For he breaketh me with a tempest, And multiplieth my wounds without cause.

 9:18 He will not suffer me to take my breath, But filleth me with bitterness.

 9:19 If [we speak] of strength, lo, [he is] mighty! And if of justice, Who, [saith he], will summon me?

 9:20 Though I be righteous, mine own mouth shall condemn me: Though I be perfect, it shall prove me perverse.

 9:21 I am perfect; I regard not myself; I despise my life.

 9:22 It is all one; therefore I say, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

 9:23 If the scourge slay suddenly, He will mock at the trial of the innocent.

 9:24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He covereth the faces of the judges thereof: If [it be] not [he], who then is it?

 9:25 Now my days are swifter than a post: They flee away, they see no good,

 9:26 They are passed away as the swift ships; As the eagle that swoopeth on the prey.

 9:27 If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will put off my [sad] countenance, and be of good cheer;

 9:28 I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.

 9:29 I shall be condemned; Why then do I labor in vain?

 9:30 If I wash myself with snow water, And make my hands never so clean;

 9:31 Yet wilt thou plunge me in the ditch, And mine own clothes shall abhor me.

 9:32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, That we should come together in judgment.

 9:33 There is no umpire betwixt us, That might lay his hand upon us both.

 9:34 Let him take his rod away from me, And let not his terror make me afraid:

 9:35 Then would I speak, and not fear him; For I am not so in myself.