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9:1 Then Job answered: 9:2 'Truly I know that it is so: But how can a man be just before God? 9:3 If one wished to contend with him, one could not answer him once in a thousand times. 9:4 He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength -- who has hardened himself against him, and succeeded? -- 9:5 he who removes mountains, and they know it not, 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 who made the Bear and Orion, the Plei'ades and the chambers of the south; 9:10 who does great things beyond understanding, and marvelous things without number. 9:11 Lo, he passes by me, and I see him not;he moves on, but I do not perceive him. 9:12 Behold, he snatches away;who can hinder him? Who will say to him, What doest thou'? 9:13 'God will not turn back his anger;beneath him bowed the helpers of Rahab. 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 would not believe that he was listening 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, behold him! 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 regard not 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 faces 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 thou wilt not hold me innocent. 9:29 I shall be condemned;why then do I labor in vain? 9:30 If I wash myself with snow, and cleanse my hands with lye, 9:31 yet thou wilt plunge me into a pit, and my own clothes will abhor me. 9:32 For he is not a man, 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 upon us both. 9:34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not dread of him terrify me. 9:35 Then I would speak without fear of him, for I am not so in myself.