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 Pleiades 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 are you doing?'
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 you will not hold me innocent.
9 29 I shall be condemned;
why then do I labour in vain?
9 30 If I wash myself with snow,
and cleanse my hands with lye,
9 31 yet you will 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.