Job acknowledges God’s justice – Book of Job, chapter 9

Job acknowledges God’s justice: although He often afflicts the innocent.

[1] And Job answered, and said: [2] Indeed I know it is so, and that man cannot be justified compared with God. [3] If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one for a thousand. [4] He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath resisted him, and hath had peace? [5] Who hath removed mountains, and they whom he overthrew in his wrath, knew it not.

[6] Who shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble. [7] Who commandeth the sun and it riseth not: and shutteth up the stars as it were under a seal: [8] Who alone spreadeth out the heavens, and walketh upon the waves of the sea. [9] Who maketh Arcturus, and Orion, and Hyades, and the inner parts of the south. [10] Who doth things great and incomprehensible, and wonderful, of which there is no number.

[11] If he come to me, I shall not see him: if he depart I shall not understand. [12] If he examine on a sudden, who shall answer him? or who can say: Why dost thou so? [13] God, whose wrath no man can resist, and under whom they stoop that bear up the world. [14] What am I then, that I should answer him, and have words with him? [15] I, who although I should have any just thing, would not answer, but would make supplication to my judge.

[16] And if he should hear me when I call, I should not believe that he had heard my voice. [17] For he shall crush me in a whirlwind, and multiply my wounds even without cause. [18] He alloweth not my spirit to rest, and he filleth me with bitterness. [19] If strength be demanded, he is most strong: if equity of judgment, no man dare bear witness for me. [20] If I would justify myself, my own mouth shall condemn me: if I would shew myself innocent, he shall prove me wicked.

[21] Although I should be simple, even this my soul shall be ignorant of, and I shall be weary of my life. [22] One thing there is that I have spoken, both the innocent and the wicked he consumeth. [23] If he scourge, let him kill at once, and not laugh at the pains of the innocent. [24] The earth is given into the hand of the wicked, he covereth the face of the judges thereof: and if it be not he, who is it then? [25] My days have been swifter than a post: they have fled away and have not seen good.

[26] They have passed by as ships carrying fruits, as an eagle flying to the prey. [27] If I say: I will not speak so: I change my face, and am tormented with sorrow. [28] I feared all my works, knowing that thou didst not spare the offender. [29] But if so also I am wicked, why have I laboured in vain? [30] If I be washed as it were with snow waters, and my hands shall shine ever so clean:

[31] Yet thou shalt plunge me in filth, and my garments shall abhor me, [32] For I shall not answer a man that is like myself: nor one that may be heard with me equally in judgment. [33] There is none that may be able to reprove both, and to put his hand between both. [34] Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me. [35] I will speak, and will not fear him: for I cannot answer while I am in fear.

Commentary

[9] “Arcturus”: These are names of stars or constellations. In Hebrew, Ash, Cesil, and Cimah. See note chap. 38, ver. 31.

[17] “Without cause”: That is, without my knowing the cause: or without any crime of mine.