9:1 Then Iyov (איּו) answered and said:
9:2 I know [it is] so of a truth: but how should man be just with EL (אל)?
9:3 If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.
9:4 [He is] wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who have hardened [himself] against him, and have prospered?
9:5 Which removes the mountains, and they know not: which overturns them in his anger.
9:6 Which shakes the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.
9:7 Which commands the sun, and it rises not; and seals up the stars.
9:8 Which alone spreads out the heavens, and treads upon the waves of the sea.
9:9 Which maks Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.
9:10 Which does great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.
9:11 Behold, he goes by me, and I see [him] not: he passs on also, but I perceive him not.
9:12 Behold, he takes away, who can hinder him? who will say to him, What doest you?
9:13 [If] Elo'ah (אלוהּ) will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do 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] would I not answer, [but] I would make supplication to my judge.
9:16 If I had called, and he had answered me; [yet] would I not believe that he had listened to my voice.
9:17 For he breaks me with a tempest, and multiplies my wounds without cause.
9:18 He will not suffer me to take my breath, but fills me with bitterness.
9:19 If [I speak] of strength, lo, [he is] strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time [to plead]?
9:20 If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: [if I say], I [am] perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.
9:21 [Though] I [were] perfect, [yet] would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
9:22 This [is] one [thing], therefore I said [it], He destroys the perfect and the wicked.
9:23 If the scourge slay 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 thereof; if not, where, [and] who [is] he?
9:25 Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.
9:26 They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle [that] hastes to the prey.
9:27 If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort [myself]:
9:28 I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that you will not hold me innocent.
9:29 [If] I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?
9:30 If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;
9:31 Yet shall you plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.
9:32 For [he is] not a man, as I [am, that] I should answer him, [and] we should come together in judgment.
9:33 Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, [that] might lay his hand upon us both.
9:34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:
9:35 [Then] would I speak, and not fear him; but [it is] not so with me.