KJ3 Literal Translation
Job 9
1 Job acknowledges Jehovah's justice and shows there is no contending with him. 22 Man's innocence is not to be condemned by afflictions.
1¶ And Job answered and said:
2Truly I know it is so; but how can man be just with God?
3If he would delight to argue with Him, he cannot answer Him one of a thousand.
4He is wise in heart and mighty in strength; who has been hard against Him and been at peace?
5He who moves the mountains, and they do not know when He overturns them in His anger;
6who shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble;
7the One speaking to the sun and it does not rise; and for the stars He sets a seal;
8stretching out the heavens by Himself, and walking on the high place of the sea;
9Who made the Ursa Major, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south;
10doing great things past finding out; yea, wonderful things until there is no number?
11Behold, He goes by me, and I do not see Him; and He passes on, but I do not perceive Him.
12Behold, He takes away; who can turn Him back? Who will say to Him, What are You doing?
13God will not withdraw His anger; the helpers of pride crouch under Him.
14¶ How then shall I answer Him, and choose my words with Him!
15Whom, though I were being righteous, I could not answer Him; I seek mercy for my judgment.
16If I had called and He had not answered me I would not believe that He had listened to my voice;
17He falls on me me with a tempest, and adds to my wounds without cause;
18who will not allow me to bring back my breath, but fills me with bitterness.
19If I speak of strength, behold, He is mighty; and if of judgment, who can summon me?
20If I am being righteous my mouth will condemn me; though I am the perfect one, He shall declare me perverse;
21though I were the perfect one, I would not know my own soul; I despise my life.
22¶ It is all one; on account of this I said, He is consuming the perfect one and the wicked one.
23If the whip kills suddenly, He will mock at the testing of the innocent.
24The earth is given into the hand of the wicked one; He covers the faces of its judges. If it is not He, then who is it?
25¶ Now my days are swifter than a runner; they flee away; they see no good;
26they have passed away like the reed ships, as an eagle swoops on food.
27If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will loosen my face and be cheerful,
28I am afraid of all my sorrows; I know that You will not hold me innocent;
29I have been condemned; why should I labor in vain?
30If I wash myself with snow, and make my palms clean with lye soap,
31yet You will plunge me into the ditch, and my own clothes would abhor me.
32For He is not a man, as I am, that I should answer Him; that we should come together in judgment;
33there is no mediator between us, who might lay his hand on both of us.
34Let Him take His rod away from me, and let not His dread make me afraid;
35then I would speak, and not fear Him; for I am not so in myself.
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