Job 9
Job's Inability to
Answer God |
1 |
Then Job answered and said,
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2 |
I know it is so of a truth:
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but how should man be just with
God? |
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3 |
If he will contend with him,
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he cannot answer him one of a
thousand. |
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4 |
He is wise in heart, and mighty in
strength:
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who hath hardened himself against him, and
hath
prospered? |
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5 |
which removeth the mountains, and they
know not;
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which overturneth them in his
anger; |
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6 |
which shaketh the earth out of her
place,
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and the pillars thereof
tremble; |
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7 |
which commandeth the sun, and it riseth
not;
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and sealeth up the
stars; |
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8 |
which alone spreadeth out the
heavens,
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and treadeth upon the waves of the
sea; |
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9 |
which maketh Arctu'rus, Ori'on, and
Plei'ades, Job. 38.31 · Amos 5.8
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and the chambers of the
south; |
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10 |
which doeth great things past finding
out;
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yea, and wonders without
number. |
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11 |
Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not:
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he passeth on also, but I perceive him
not. |
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12 |
Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder
him?
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Who will say unto him, What doest thou?
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13 |
If God will not withdraw his
anger,
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the proud helpers do stoop under
him. |
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14 |
How much less shall I answer him,
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and choose out my words to reason with
him? |
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15 |
whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer,
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but I would make supplication to my
judge. |
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16 |
If I had called, and he had answered
me;
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yet would I not believe that he had hearkened
unto my
voice. |
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17 |
For he breaketh me with a tempest,
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and multiplieth my wounds without
cause. |
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18 |
He will not suffer me to take my
breath,
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but filleth me with
bitterness. |
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19 |
If I speak of strength, lo, he
is strong:
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and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to
plead? |
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20 |
If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall
condemn me:
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if I say, I am perfect, it shall also
prove me
perverse. |
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21 |
Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul:
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22 |
This is one thing, therefore I said it,
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He destroyeth the perfect and the
wicked. |
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23 |
If the scourge slay suddenly,
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he will laugh at the trial of the
innocent. |
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24 |
The earth is given into the hand of the
wicked:
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he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; |
if not, where, and who is he?
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25 |
Now my days are swifter than a post:
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they flee away, they see no
good. |
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26 |
They are passed away as the swift
ships:
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as the eagle that hasteth to the
prey. |
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27 |
If I say, I will forget my complaint,
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I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself; |
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28 |
I am afraid of all my sorrows,
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I know that thou wilt not hold me
innocent. |
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29 |
If I be wicked,
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why then labor I in
vain? |
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30 |
If I wash myself with snow water,
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and make my hands never so
clean; |
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31 |
yet shalt thou plunge me in the
ditch,
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and mine own clothes shall abhor
me. |
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32 |
For he is not a man, as I am,
that I should answer him,
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and we should come together in
judgment. |
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33 |
Neither is there any daysman betwixt
us,
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that might lay his hand upon us
both. |
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34 |
Let him take his rod away from me,
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and let not his fear terrify
me: |
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35 |
then would I speak, and not fear
him;
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but it is not so with
me. |
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