Job 9

Job Replies: There Is No Arbiter

9Then Job answered and said:H347H6030H5592"Truly I know that it is so: But how can a man be in the right before God?H3045H551H582H6663H4103If one wished to contend with him, one could not answer him once in a thousand times.H2654H7378H6030H259H5054He is wise in heart and mighty in strength—who has hardened himself against him, and succeeded?—H2450H3824H533H3581H7185H79995he who removes mountains, and they know it not, when he overturns them in his anger,H6275H2022H3045H2015H6396who shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble;H7264H776H4725H5982H64267who commands the sun, and it does not rise; who seals up the stars;H559H2775H2224H2856H35568who alone stretched out the heavens and trampled the waves of the sea;H5186H8064H1869H1116H32209who made the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the chambers of the south;H6213H5906H3685H3598H2315H848610who does great things beyond searching out, and marvelous things beyond number.H6213H1419H369H2714H6381H455711Behold, he passes by me, and I see him not; he moves on, but I do not perceive him.H5674H7200H2498H99512Behold, he snatches away; who can turn him back? Who will say to him, 'What are you doing?'H2862H7725H559H621313"God will not turn back his anger; beneath him bowed the helpers of Rahab.H433H7725H639H7293H5826H781714How then can I answer him, choosing my words with him?H6030H977H169715Though I am in the right, I cannot answer him; I must appeal for mercy to my accuser.H6663H6030H2603H819916If I summoned him and he answered me, I would not believe that he was listening to my voice.H7121H6030H539H238H696317For he crushes me with a tempest and multiplies my wounds without cause;H7779H8183H7235H6482H260018he will not let me get my breath, but fills me with bitterness.H5414H7725H7307H7646H447219If it is a contest of strength, behold, he is mighty! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon him?H3581H533H4941H325920Though I am in the right, my own mouth would condemn me; though I am blameless, he would prove me perverse.H6663H6310H7561H8535H614021I am blameless; I regard not myself; I loathe my life.H8535H3045H5315H3988H241622It is all one; therefore I say, He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.H259H559H3615H8535H756323When disaster brings sudden death, he mocks at the calamity of the innocent.H7752H4191H6597H3932H4531H535524The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; he covers the faces of its judges— if it is not he, who then is it?H776H5414H3027H7563H3680H6440H8199H64525"My days are swifter than a runner; they flee away; they see no good.H3117H7043H7323H1272H7200H289626They go by like skiffs of reed, like an eagle swooping on the prey.H2498H5973H16H591H5404H2907H40027If I say, 'I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad face, and be of good cheer,'H559H7911H7879H5800H6440H108228I become afraid of all my suffering, for I know you will not hold me innocent.H3025H6094H3045H535229I shall be condemned; why then do I labor in vain?H7561H3021H189230If I wash myself with snow and cleanse my hands with lye,H7364H7950H4325H1119H3709H1252H1253H214131yet you will plunge me into a pit, and my own clothes will abhor me.H227H2881H7845H8008H858132For he is not a man, as I am, that I might answer him, that we should come to trial together.H376H6030H935H3162H494133There is no arbiter between us, who might lay his hand on us both.H3426H3198H7896H3027H814734Let him take his rod away from me, and let not dread of him terrify me.H5493H7626H5493H367H120435Then I would speak without fear of him, for I am not so in myself.H1696H3372