| 章 |
| 9:1 |
Then Job replied:
|
| 9:2 |
"Indeed, I know that this is true. But how can a mortal be righteous before God?
|
| 9:3 |
Though one wished to dispute with him, he could not answer him one time out of a thousand.
|
| 9:4 |
His wisdom is profound, his power is vast. Who has resisted him and come out unscathed?
|
| 9:5 |
He moves mountains without their knowing it and overturns them in his anger.
|
| 9:6 |
He shakes the earth from its place and makes its pillars tremble.
|
| 9:7 |
He speaks to the sun and it does not shine; he seals off the light of the stars.
|
| 9:8 |
He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea.
|
| 9:9 |
He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.
|
| 9:10 |
He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.
|
| 9:11 |
When he passes me, I cannot see him; when he goes by, I cannot perceive him.
|
| 9:12 |
If he snatches away, who can stop him? Who can say to him, `What are you doing?
|
| 9:13 |
'God does not restrain his anger; even the cohorts of Rahab cowered at his feet.
|
| 9:14 |
"How then can I dispute with him? How can I find words to argue with him?
|
| 9:15 |
Though I were innocent, I could not answer him; I could only plead with my Judge for mercy.
|
| 9:16 |
Even if I summoned him and he responded, I do not believe he would give me a hearing.
|
| 9:17 |
He would crush me with a storm and multiply my wounds for no reason.
|
| 9:18 |
He would not let me regain my breath but would overwhelm me with misery.
|
| 9:19 |
If it is a matter of strength, he is mighty! And if it is a matter of justice, who will summon him?
|
| 9:20 |
Even if I were innocent, my mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, it would pronounce me guilty.
|
| 9:21 |
"Although I am blameless, I have no concern for myself; I despise my own life.
|
| 9:22 |
It is all the same; that is why I say, `He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.
|
| 9:23 |
'When a scourge brings sudden death, he mocks the despair of the innocent.
|
| 9:24 |
When a land falls into the hands of the wicked, he blindfolds its judges. If it is not he, then who is it?
|
| 9:25 |
"My days are swifter than a runner; they fly away without a glimpse of joy.
|
| 9:26 |
They skim past like boats of papyrus, like eagles swooping down on their prey.
|
| 9:27 |
If I say, `I will forget my complaint, I will change my expression, and smile,
|
| 9:28 |
'I still dread all my sufferings, for I know you will not hold me innocent.
|
| 9:29 |
Since I am already found guilty, why should I struggle in vain?
|
| 9:30 |
Even if I washed myself with soap and my hands with washing soda,
|
| 9:31 |
you would plunge me into a slime pit so that even my clothes would detest me.
|
| 9:32 |
"He is not a man like me that I might answer him, that we might confront each other in court.
|
| 9:33 |
If only there were someone to arbitrate between us, to lay his hand upon us both,
|
| 9:34 |
someone to remove God's rod from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more.
|
| 9:35 |
Then I would speak up without fear of him, but as it now stands with me, I cannot.
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