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Job Chapter 9

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asv (asv) - eBible.org engASV USFM

1 Neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth.
2 For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field;
3 And the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee.
4 And thou shalt know that thy tent is in peace;
5 And thou shalt visit thy fold, and shalt miss nothing.
6 Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great,
7 And thine offspring as the grass of the earth.
8 Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age,
9 Like as a shock of grain cometh in in its season.
10 Lo this, we have searched it, so it is;
11 Hear it, and know thou it for thy good.
12 Then Job answered and said,
13 Oh that my vexation were but weighed,
14 And all my calamity laid in the balances!
15 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas:
16 Therefore have my words been rash.
17 For the arrows of the Almighty are within me,
18 The poison whereof my spirit drinketh up:
19 The terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.
20 Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass?
21 Or loweth the ox over his fodder?
22 Can that which hath no savor be eaten without salt?
23 Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
24 My soul refuseth to touch
25 them;
26 They are as loathsome food to me.
27 Oh that I might have my request;
28 And that God would grant
29 me the thing that I long for!
30 Even that it would please God to crush me;
31 That he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!
32 And be it still my consolation,
33 Yea, let me exult in pain that spareth not,
34 That I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
35 What is my strength, that I should wait?

darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext

1 And Job answered and said,
2 Of a truth I know it is so; but how can man be just withGod?
3 If he shall choose to strive with him, he cannot answer him one thing of a thousand.
4 He is wise in heart and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and had peace?
5 Who removeth mountains, and they know it not, when he overturneth them in his anger;
6 Who shaketh the earth out of its place, and the pillars thereof tremble;
7 Who commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, and he sealeth up the stars;
8 Who alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the high waves of the sea;
9 Who maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south;
10 Who doeth great things past finding out, and wonders without number.
11 Lo, he goeth by me, and I see [him] not; and he passeth along, and I perceive him not.
12 Behold, he taketh away: who will hinder him? Who will say unto him, What doest thou?
13 God withdraweth not his anger; the proud helpers stoop under him:
14 How much less shall I answer him, choose out my words [to strive] with him?
15 Whom, though I were righteous, [yet] would I not answer; I would make supplication to my judge.
16 If I had called, and he had answered me, I would not believe that he hearkened to my voice, —
17 He, who crusheth me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.
18 He suffereth me not to take my breath, for he filleth me with bitternesses.
19 Be it a question of strength, lo, [he is] strong; and be it of judgment, who will set me a time?
20 If I justified myself, mine own mouth would condemn me; were I perfect, he would prove me perverse.
21 Were I perfect, [yet] would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
22 It is all one; therefore I said, he destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
23 If the scourge kill suddenly, he mocketh at the trial of the innocent.
24 The earth is given over into the hand of the wicked [man]; he covereth the faces of its judges. If not, who then is it?
25 And my days are swifter than a runner: they flee away, they see no good.
26 They pass by like skiffs of reed; as an eagle that swoops upon the prey.
27 If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my [sad] countenance, and brighten up,
28 I am afraid of all my sorrows; I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
29 Be it that I am wicked, why then do I labour in vain?
30 If I washed myself with snow-water, and cleansed my hands in purity,
31 Then wouldest thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes would abhor me.
32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him; that we should come together in judgment.
33 There is not an umpire between us, who should lay his hand upon us both.
34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his terror make me afraid,
35 [Then] I will speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.

lxxbrent (lxxbrent) - Septuagint (Brenton 1851) eBible USFM

1 Then Job answered and said,
2 I know of a truth that it is so: for how shall a mortal man be just before the Lord?
3 For if he would enter into judgment with him, [God] would not hearken to him, so that he should answer to one of his charges of a thousand.
4 For he is wise in mind, and mighty, and great: who has hardened himself against him and endured?
5 Who wears out the mountains, and [men] know it not: who overturns them in anger.
6 Who shakes the [earth] under heaven from its foundations, and its pillars totter.
7 Who commands the sun, and it rises not; and he seals up the stars.
8 Who alone has stretched out the heavens, and walks on the sea as on firm ground.
9 Who makes Pleias, and Hesperus, and Arcturus, and the chambers of the south.
10 Who does great and unsearchable things; glorious also and excellent things, innumerable.
11 If ever he should go beyond me, I shall not see him: if he should pass by me, neither thus have I known [it].
12 If he would take away, who shall turn him back? or who shall say to him, What hast thou done?
13 For [if] he has turned away [his] anger, the whales under heaven have stooped under him.
14 Oh then that he would hearken to me, or judge my cause.
15 For though I be righteous, he will not hearken to me: I will intreat his judgment.
16 And if I should call and he should not hearken, I cannot believe that he has listened to my voice.
17 Let him not crush me with a dark storm: but he has made my bruises many without cause.
18 For he suffers me not to take breath, but he has filled me with bitterness.
19 For indeed he is strong in power: who then shall resist his judgment?
20 For though I should seem righteous, my mouth will be profane: and though I should seem blameless, I shall be proved perverse.
21 For even if I have sinned, I know it not [in] my soul: but my life is taken away.
22 Wherefore I said, Wrath slays the great and mighty man.
23 For the worthless die, but the righteous are laughed to scorn.
24 For they are delivered into the hands of the unrighteous [man]: he covers the faces of the judges [of the earth]: but if it be not he, who is it?
25 But my life is swifter than a post: [my days] have fled away, and they knew it not.
26 Or again, is there a trace of [their] path [left] by ships? or is there one of the flying eagle as it seeks [its] prey?
27 And if I should say, I will forget to speak, I will bow down my face and groan;
28 I quake in all my limbs, for I know that thou wilt not leave me alone [as] innocent.
29 But since I am ungodly, why have I not died?
30 For if I should wash myself with snow, and purge myself with pure hands,
31 thou hadst thoroughly plunged me in filth, and my garment had abhorred me.
32 For thou art not man like me, with whom I could contend, that we might come together to judgment.
33 Would that [he] our mediator were [present], and a reprover, and one who should hear [the cause] between both.
34 Let him remove [his] rod from me, and let not his fear terrify me:
35 so shall I not be afraid, but I will speak: for I am not thus conscious [of guilt].

vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)

1 Et respondens Iob, ait:
2 Vere scio quod ita sit, et quod non iustificetur homo compositus Deo.
3 Si voluerit contendere cum eo, non poterit ei respondere unum pro mille.
4 Sapiens corde est, et fortis robore: quis restitit ei, et pacem habuit?
5 Qui transtulit montes, et nescierunt hi quos subvertit in furore suo.
6 Qui commovet terram de loco suo, et columnæ eius concutiuntur.
7 Qui præcipit Soli, et non oritur: et stellas claudit quasi sub signaculo:
8 Qui extendit cælos solus, et graditur super fluctus maris.
9 Qui facit Arcturum, et Oriona, et Hyadas, et interiora austri.
10 Qui facit magna, et incomprehensibilia, et mirabilia, quorum non est numerus.
11 Si venerit ad me, non videbo eum: si abierit, non intelligam.
12 Si repente interroget, quis respondebit ei? vel quis dicere potest: Cur ita facis?
13 Deus, cuius iræ nemo resistere potest, et sub quo curvantur qui portant orbem.
14 Quantus ergo sum ego, ut respondeam ei, et loquar verbis meis cum eo?
15 Qui etiam si habuero quippiam iustum, non respondebo, sed meum iudicem deprecabor.
16 Et cum invocantem exaudierit me, non credo quod audierit vocem meam.
17 In turbine enim conteret me, et multiplicabit vulnera mea etiam sine causa.
18 Non concedit requiescere spiritum meum, et implet me amaritudinibus.
19 Si fortitudo quæritur, robustissimus est: si æquitas iudicii, nemo audet pro me testimonium dicere.
20 Si iustificare me voluero, os meum condemnabit me: si innocentem ostendero, pravum me comprobabit.
21 Etiam si simplex fuero, hoc ipsum ignorabit anima mea, et tædebit me vitæ meæ.
22 Unum est quod locutus sum, et innocentem et impium ipse consumit.
23 Si flagellat, occidat semel, et non de pœnis innocentum rideat.
24 Terra data est in manus impii, vultum iudicum eius operit: quod si non ille est, quis ergo est?
25 Dies mei velociores fuerunt cursore: fugerunt, et non viderunt bonum.
26 Pertransierunt quasi naves poma portantes, sicut aquila volans ad escam.
27 Cum dixero: Nequaquam ita loquar: commuto faciem meam, et dolore torqueor.
28 Verebar omnia opera mea, sciens quod non parceres delinquenti.
29 Si autem et sic impius sum, quare frustra laboravi?
30 Si lotus fuero quasi aquis nivis, et fulserit velut mundissimæ manus meæ:
31 Tamen sordibus intinges me, et abominabuntur me vestimenta mea.
32 Neque enim viro qui similis mei est, respondebo: nec qui mecum in iudicio ex æquo possit audiri.
33 Non est qui utrumque valeat arguere, et ponere manum suam in ambobus.
34 Auferat a me virgam suam, et pavor eius non me terreat.
35 Loquar, et non timebo eum: neque enim possum metuens respondere.

web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV

1 Then Job answered,
2 “Truly I know that it is so, but how can man be just with God?
3 If he is pleased to contend with him, he can’t answer him one time in a thousand.
4 God is wise in heart, and mighty in strength. Who has hardened himself against him and prospered?
5 He removes the mountains, and they don’t know it, when he overturns them in his anger.
6 He shakes the earth out of its place. Its pillars tremble.
7 He commands the sun and it doesn’t rise, and seals up the stars.
8 He alone stretches out the heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea.
9 He makes the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the rooms of the south.
10 He does great things past finding out; yes, marvelous things without number.
11 Behold, he goes by me, and I don’t see him. He passes on also, but I don’t perceive him.
12 Behold, he snatches away. Who can hinder him? Who will ask him, ‘What are you doing?’
13 “God will not withdraw his anger. The helpers of Rahab stoop under him.
14 How much less will I answer him, and choose my words to argue with him?
15 Though I were righteous, yet I wouldn’t answer him. I would make supplication to my judge.
16 If I had called, and he had answered me, yet I wouldn’t believe that he listened to my voice.
17 For he breaks me with a storm, and multiplies my wounds without cause.
18 He will not allow me to catch my breath, but fills me with bitterness.
19 If it is a matter of strength, behold, he is mighty! If of justice, ‘Who,’ says he, ‘will summon me?’
20 Though I am righteous, my own mouth will condemn me. Though I am blameless, it will prove me perverse.
21 I am blameless. I don’t respect myself. I despise my life.
22 “It is all the same. Therefore I say he destroys the blameless and the wicked.
23 If the scourge kills suddenly, he will mock at the trial of the innocent.
24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked. He covers the faces of its judges. If not he, then who is it?
25 “Now my days are swifter than a runner. They flee away. They see no good.
26 They have passed away as the swift ships, as the eagle that swoops on the prey.
27 If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad face, and cheer up,’
28 I am afraid of all my sorrows. I know that you will not hold me innocent.
29 I will be condemned. Why then do I labor in vain?
30 If I wash myself with snow, and cleanse my hands with lye,
31 yet you will plunge me in the ditch. My own clothes will abhor me.
32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, that we should come together in judgment.
33 There is no umpire between us, that might lay his hand on us both.
34 Let him take his rod away from me. Let his terror not make me afraid;
35 then I would speak, and not fear him, for I am not so in myself.

ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8

1 And Job answereth and saith: --
2 Truly I have known that <FI>it is<Fi> so, And what--is man righteous with God?
3 If he delight to strive with Him--He doth not answer him one of a thousand.
4 Wise in heart and strong in power--Who hath hardened toward Him and is at peace?
5 Who is removing mountains, And they have not known, Who hath overturned them in His anger.
6 Who is shaking earth from its place, And its pillars move themselves.
7 Who is speaking to the sun, and it riseth not, And the stars He sealeth up.
8 Stretching out the heavens by Himself, And treading on the heights of the sea,
9 Making Osh, Kesil, and Kimah, And the inner chambers of the south.
10 Doing great things till there is no searching, And wonderful, till there is no numbering.
11 Lo, He goeth over by me, and I see not, And He passeth on, and I attend not to it.
12 Lo, He snatches away, who bringeth it back? Who saith unto Him, `What dost Thou?'
13 God doth not turn back His anger, Under Him bowed have proud helpers.
14 How much less do I--I answer Him? Choose out my words with Him?
15 Whom, though I were righteous, I answer not, For my judgment I make supplication.
16 Though I had called and He answereth me, I do not believe that He giveth ear <FI>to<Fi> my voice.
17 Because with a tempest He bruiseth me, And hath multiplied my wounds for nought.
18 He permitteth me not to refresh my spirit, But filleth me with bitter things.
19 If of power, lo, the Strong One; And if of judgment--who doth convene me?
20 If I be righteous, Mine mouth doth declare me wicked, Perfect I am! --it declareth me perverse.
21 Perfect I am! --I know not my soul, I despise my life.
22 It is the same thing, therefore I said, `The perfect and the wicked He is consuming.'
23 If a scourge doth put to death suddenly, At the trial of the innocent He laugheth.
24 Earth hath been given Into the hand of the wicked one. The face of its judges he covereth, If not--where, who <FI>is<Fi> he?
25 My days have been swifter than a runner, They have fled, they have not seen good,
26 They have passed on with ships of reed, As an eagle darteth on food.
27 Though I say, `I forget my talking, I forsake my corner, and I brighten up!'
28 I have been afraid of all my griefs, I have known that Thou dost not acquit me.
29 I--I am become wicked; why <FI>is<Fi> this? <FI>In<Fi> vain I labour.
30 If I have washed myself with snow-water, And purified with soap my hands,
31 Then in corruption Thou dost dip me, And my garments have abominated me.
32 But if a man like myself--I answer him, We come together into judgment.
33 If there were between us an umpire, He doth place his hand on us both.
34 He doth turn aside from off me his rod, And His terror doth not make me afraid,
35 I speak, and do not fear Him, But I am not right with myself.

Explanations by Age Level

Explain Like I'm 5

A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!

Explain Like I'm 10

Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.

Explain Like I'm 15

Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).