^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 is 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 has hardened himself against him and prospered?

    ^9:5 He who removes the mountains and they do not know it when he overturns them in his anger, ^9:6who shakes the earth out of its place and the pillars of it tremble, ^9:7 who commands the sun and it does not rise and seals up the stars, ^9:8 who alone stretches out the heavens and treads upon the waves of the sea, ^9:9 who makes the Bear, Orion and the Pleiades and the chambers of the south, ^9:10 who does great things past finding out, yes, marvelous things without number.

    ^9:11 Behold, he goes by me and I do not see him. He also passes on, but I do not perceive him.

    ^9:12 Behold, he seizes; who can hinder him? Who will say to him, What are you doing? ^9:13 God will not withdraw his anger. The helpers of Rahab 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 I would not answer. I would make supplication to my judge.

    ^9:16 If I had called and he had answered me, yet I would not believe that he listened to my voice. ^9:17For he breaks me with a tempest and multiplies my wounds without cause. ^9:18 He will not allow me to take my breath, but fills me with bitterness. ^9:19 If of strength behold, he is mighty! And if of justice, who will summon me?

    ^9:20 Though I am righteous, my own mouth will condemn me. Though I am perfect, it will prove me perverse. ^9:21 Though I were perfect, I do not regard myself. I despise my life.

    ^9:22 It is all one thing. Therefore I say, He destroys the perfect and the wicked. ^9:23 If the scourge kills suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent. ^9:24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked. He covers the faces of the judges of it. If not he, who then is it?

    ^9:25 Now my days are swifter than a runner. They flee away. They see no good, ^9:26 They are passed away as the swift ships, as the eagle that swoops 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 you will not hold me innocent. ^9:29 I will be condemned. Why then do I labor in vain? ^9:30 If I wash myself with snow water and make my hands ever so clean, ^9:31 yet you will plunge me in the ditch and my own clothes will 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 between us who might lay his hand upon us both.

    ^9:34 Let him take his rod away from me and do not let his terror make me afraid. ^9:35 Then I would speak and not be afraid of him, for I am not so in myself.