Job 9

Job’s Third Speech: A Response to Bildad

1Then Job answered and said,

2I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God? +

3If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand. +

4He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?

5Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger. +

6Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble. +

7Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars. +

8Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea. +

9Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south. +

10Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.

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

12Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou? +

13If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him. +

14How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?

15Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge. +

16If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.

17For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause. +

18He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness. +

19If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?

20If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse. +

21Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life. +

22This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked. +

23If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.

24The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he? +

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

26They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey. +

27If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:

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

29If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain? +

30If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean; +

31Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.

32For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment. + •Job and Jesus (Chart)

33Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both. +

34Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me: +

35Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.