9 Then Iyov answered and said,

² I know it is indeed thus, but how should yitzdak Enosh im El (Man be in the right, justified, before G-d)?

³ If he will contend with Him, once of a thousand can Man not answer G-d back.

⁴ G-d is chochom in lev, and mighty in ko’ach; who hath hardened himself to defy Him and remained unhurt?

⁵ Which removeth the harim (mountains), and they know not; which overturneth them in His anger;

⁶ Which shaketh eretz out of its place, and the ammudim thereof tremble;

⁷ Which commandeth the cheres (sun), and it riseth not; and sealeth up the kokhavim;

⁸ Which spreadeth out Shomayim by Himself alone, and treadeth upon the waves of the yam;

⁹ Which maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the constellations on the south side of the heavens;

¹⁰ Which doeth gedolot past finding out; yea, and nifla’ot (wonders) without number.

¹¹ Hen (lo), He passeth by me, and I see Him not; He goeth on also, but I perceive Him not.

¹² Hinei, He taketh away, who can stop Him? Who will say unto Him, Mah ta’aseh (what are You doing)?

¹³ If Eloah restraineth not His anger, the helpers of Rahab must bow themselves under Him.

¹⁴ How much less shall I dispute with Him, and choose my dvarim with Him?

¹⁵ Whom, though I were tzaddik (righteous, innocent, in the right), yet would I not answer, but I would make techinnah (supplication, plea for mercy) for my mishpat (right).

¹⁶ If I had summoned, and He had responded to me, yet would I not believe that He had paid heed unto my kol (voice);

¹⁷ For He breaketh me in a sa’arah (tempest, storm), and multiplieth my wounds without cause.

¹⁸ He will not allow me to take my ruach (breath), but filleth me with bitterness.

¹⁹ If I speak of ko’ach, hinei, He is mighty, and if of mishpat, who can give Him a court summons?

²⁰ If etzdak (I am justified, in the right), mine own mouth would condemn me; if I say, I am blameless, He would prove me perverse.

²¹ Though I were blameless, yet would I not know my nefesh; I would despise my life.

²² This is one thing; therefore I said it, He destroyeth the tam (blameless) and the rasha (wicked).

²³ If the shot (scourge) slay suddenly, He laugheth at the melting away [in anguish] of the nekiyim (innocent ones, the guiltless ones).

²⁴ Eretz is given into the yad of the resha; He blindfoldeth the faces of the shofetim (judges) thereof; if not, then, who doeth it?

²⁵ Now my yamim are swifter than a runner; they flee away, they see no tovah.

²⁶ They slip by like oniyyot (boats) of reed; as the nesher that swoopeth down on the prey.

²⁷ If I say, I will forget my si’akh (complaint), I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself,

²⁸ I am afraid of all my sorrows; I have da’as that Thou wilt not hold me innocent.

²⁹ If I be wicked, why then labor I in hevel (vain)?

³⁰ If I wash myself with sheleg (snow), and make my hands clean with lye,

³¹ Yet shalt Thou plunge me in the shachat (slime pit), and mine own clothes shall abhor me.

³² For He is not an ish, as I am, that I should answer Him, and we should come together in mishpat (in the court).

³³ Neither is there any mochiach (arbitrator) between us, that might lay his yad upon us both.

³⁴ Let Him take His shevet (rod) away from me, and let not His fear terrify me.

³⁵ Then would I speak, and not fear Him; but it is not ken (so) with me.