Job, 9

¹ And Job proceeded to answer and say:

² “For a fact I do know that it is so. But how can mortal man be in the right in a case with God?^*1

³ If he should find delight in contending with him, He cannot answer him once out of a thousand.

⁴ He is wise in heart and strong in power. Who can show stubbornness to him and come off uninjured?

⁵ He is moving mountains away, so that people do not even know [of them], He who has overthrown them in his anger.

⁶ He is making the earth go quaking from its place, So that its very pillars shudder.

⁷ He is saying to the sun^*1 that it should not shine forth, And around stars he puts a seal,

⁸ Stretching out the heavens by himself And treading upon the high waves^*1 of the sea;

⁹ Making the Ash constellation,^*1 the Keʹsil constellation,^*2 And the Kiʹmah constellation^*3 and the interior rooms of the South;^*4

¹⁰ Doing great things unsearchable, And wonderful things without number.

¹¹ Look! He passes by me and I do not see [him], And he moves on and I do not discern him.

¹² Look! He snatches away. Who can resist him? Who will say to him, ‘What are you doing?’

¹³ God^*1 himself will not turn back his anger; Beneath him the helpers of a stormer^*2 must bow down.

¹⁴ How much more so in case I myself answer him! I will choose my words with him,

¹⁵ Whom I would not answer, even though I were really in the right. Of my opponent-at-law I would implore favor.

¹⁶ If I called him, would he answer me? I do not believe that he would give ear to my voice;

¹⁷ Who with a storm bruises me And certainly makes my wounds many for no reason.

¹⁸ He will not grant me my taking^*1 of a fresh breath, For he keeps glutting me with bitter things.

¹⁹ If in power anyone is strong, there [he is];^*1 And if in justice [anyone is strong], O that I may be summoned!

²⁰ If I were in the right, my own mouth^*1 would pronounce me wicked; Were I blameless, then he would declare me crooked.

²¹ Were I blameless, I would not know my soul; I would refuse my life.

²² One thing there is. That is why I do say, ‘One blameless, also a wicked one, he is bringing to their end.’

²³ If a flash flood^*1 itself should cause death suddenly, At the very despair of the innocent ones he would mock.

²⁴ Earth itself has been given into the hand of the wicked one; The face of its judges he covers. If not, who, then, is it?

²⁵ Also my own days have become swifter than a runner; They have run away, they will certainly not see good.

²⁶ They have moved on like reed boats, Like an eagle that darts to and fro for something to eat.

²⁷ If I have said, ‘Let me forget my concern, Let me alter my countenance and brighten up,’

²⁸ I have been scared of all my pains; I do know that you will not hold me innocent.

²⁹ I myself am to become wicked. Why is it that I toil merely in vain?

³⁰ If I actually washed myself in snow water, And I actually cleansed my hands^*1 in potash,

³¹ Then in a pit you would dip me, And my garments would certainly detest me.

³² For he is not a man like me [that] I should answer him, That we should come together in judgment.

³³ There exists no^*1 person to decide^*2 between us, That he should put his hand upon both of us.

³⁴ Let him remove his rod from upon me, And his frightfulness, let it not terrify me.

³⁵ Let me speak and not be afraid of him, For I am not so disposed in myself.