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9:1 Then Job answered: 9:2 "Indeed I know that this is so; but how can a mortal be just before God? 9:3 If one wished to contend with him, one could not answer him once in a thousand. 9:4 He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength-- who has resisted him, and succeeded?-- 9:5 he who removes mountains, and they do not know it, when he overturns them in his anger; 9:6 who shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble; 9:7 who commands the sun, and it does not rise; who seals up the stars; 9:8 who alone stretched out the heavens and trampled the waves of the Sea; 9:9 9:10 who does great things beyond understanding, and marvelous things without number. 9:11 Look, he passes by me, and I do not see him; he moves on, but I do not perceive him. 9:12 He snatches away; who can stop him? Who will say to him, 'What are you doing?' 9:13 "God will not turn back his anger; the helpers of Rahab bowed beneath him. 9:14 How then can I answer him, choosing my words with him? 9:15 Though I am innocent, I cannot answer him; I must appeal for mercy to my accuser. 9:16 If I summoned him and he answered me, I do not believe that he would listen to my voice. 9:17 For he crushes me with a tempest, and multiplies my wounds without cause; 9:18 he will not let me get my breath, but fills me with bitterness. 9:19 If it is a contest of strength, he is the strong one! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon him? 9:20 Though I am innocent, my own mouth would condemn me; though I am blameless, he would prove me perverse. 9:21 I am blameless; I do not know myself; I loathe my life. 9:22 It is all one; therefore I say, he destroys both the blameless and the wicked. 9:23 When disaster brings sudden death, he mocks at the calamity of the innocent. 9:24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; he covers the eyes of its judges-- if it is not he, who then is it? 9:25 "My days are swifter than a runner; they flee away, they see no good. 9:26 They go by like skiffs of reed, like an eagle swooping on the prey. 9:27 If I say, 'I will forget my complaint; I will put off my sad countenance and be of good cheer,' 9:28 I become afraid of all my suffering, for I know you will not hold me innocent. 9:29 I shall be condemned; why then do I labor in vain? 9:30 If I wash myself with soap and cleanse my hands with lye, 9:31 yet you will plunge me into filth, and my own clothes will abhor me. 9:32 For he is not a mortal, as I am, that I might answer him, that we should come to trial together. 9:33 There is no umpire between us, who might lay his hand on us both. 9:34 If he would take his rod away from me, and not let dread of him terrify me, 9:35 then I would speak without fear of him, for I know I am not what I am thought to be.