The Book of Job

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- Chapter 9 -

Job: There is no mediator

Then Iob answered, and sayd,

I knowe verily that it is so: for howe should man compared vnto God, be iustified?

If I would dispute with him, hee could not answere him one thing of a thousand.

He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath bene fierce against him and hath prospered?

He remoueth the mountaines, and they feele not when he ouerthroweth them in his wrath.

Hee remooueth the earth out of her place, that the pillars thereof doe shake.

He commandeth the sunne, and it riseth not: hee closeth vp the starres, as vnder a signet.

Hee himselfe alone spreadeth out the heauens, and walketh vpon the height of the sea.

He maketh the starres Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the climates of the South.

He doeth great things, and vnsearcheable: yea, marueilous things without nomber.

Lo, when he goeth by me, I see him not: and when he passeth by, I perceiue him not.

Behold, when he taketh a pray, who can make him to restore it? who shall say vnto him, What doest thou?

God will not withdrawe his anger, and the most mightie helpes doe stoupe vnder him.

Howe much lesse shall I answere him? or howe should I finde out my words with him?

For though I were iust, yet could I not answere, but I would make supplication to my Iudge.

If I cry, and he answere me, yet woulde I not beleeue, that he heard my voyce.

For he destroyeth mee with a tempest, and woundeth me without cause.

He wil not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitternesse.

If we speake of strength, behold, he is strog: if we speake of iudgement, who shall bring me in to pleade?

If I woulde iustifie my selfe, mine owne mouth shall condemne mee: if I would be perfite, he shall iudge me wicked.

Though I were perfite, yet I knowe not my soule: therefore abhorre I my life.

This is one point: therefore I said, Hee destroyeth the perfite and the wicked.

If the scourge should suddenly slay, should God laugh at the punishment of the innocent?

The earth is giuen into the hand of ye wicked: he couereth the faces of the iudges therof: if not, where is he? or who is he?

My dayes haue bene more swift then a post: they haue fled, and haue seene no good thing.

They are passed as with the most swift ships, and as the eagle that flyeth to the pray.

If I say, I wil forget my complaynt, I will cease from my wrath, and comfort mee,

Then I am afrayd of all my sorowes, knowing that thou wilt not iudge me innocent.

If I be wicked, why labour I thus in vaine?

If I wash my selfe with snowe water, and purge mine hands most cleane,

Yet shalt thou plunge mee in the pit, and mine owne clothes shall make me filthie.

For he is not a man as I am, that I shoulde answere him, if we come together to iudgement.

Neyther is there any vmpire that might lay his hand vpon vs both.

Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his feare astonish me:

Then will I speake, and feare him not: but because I am not so, I holde me still.

Job: There is no mediator

Then Job answered,

“Truly I know that it is so, but how can man be just with God?

If he is pleased to contend with him, he can’t answer him one time in a thousand.

God is wise in heart, and mighty in strength. Who has hardened himself against him and prospered?

He removes the mountains, and they don’t know it, when he overturns them in his anger.

He shakes the earth out of its place. Its pillars tremble.

He commands the sun and it doesn’t rise, and seals up the stars.

He alone stretches out the heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea.

He makes the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the rooms of the south.

He does great things past finding out; yes, marvelous things without number.

Behold, he goes by me, and I don’t see him. He passes on also, but I don’t perceive him.

Behold, he snatches away. Who can hinder him? Who will ask him, ‘What are you doing?’

“God will not withdraw his anger. The helpers of Rahab stoop under him.

How much less will I answer him, and choose my words to argue with him?

Though I were righteous, yet I wouldn’t answer him. I would make supplication to my judge.

If I had called, and he had answered me, yet I wouldn’t believe that he listened to my voice.

For he breaks me with a storm, and multiplies my wounds without cause.

He will not allow me to catch my breath, but fills me with bitterness.

If it is a matter of strength, behold, he is mighty! If of justice, ‘Who,’ says he, ‘will summon me?’

Though I am righteous, my own mouth will condemn me. Though I am blameless, it will prove me perverse.

I am blameless. I don’t respect myself. I despise my life.

“It is all the same. Therefore I say he destroys the blameless and the wicked.

If the scourge kills suddenly, he will mock at the trial of the innocent.

The earth is given into the hand of the wicked. He covers the faces of its judges. If not he, then who is it?

“Now my days are swifter than a runner. They flee away. They see no good.

They have passed away as the swift ships, as the eagle that swoops on the prey.

If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad face, and cheer up,’

I am afraid of all my sorrows. I know that you will not hold me innocent.

I will be condemned. Why then do I labor in vain?

If I wash myself with snow, and cleanse my hands with lye,

yet you will plunge me in the ditch. My own clothes will abhor me.

For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, that we should come together in judgment.

There is no umpire between us, that might lay his hand on us both.

Let him take his rod away from me. Let his terror not make me afraid;

then I would speak, and not fear him, for I am not so in myself.