Job 9

Job · Chapter 9

Job 9:3

1Then Job answered and said,2I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?3If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.4He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?5Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.6Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.7Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.8Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.9Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.10Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.11Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.12Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?13If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.14How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?15Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.16If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.17For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.18He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.19If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?20If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.21Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.22This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.23If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.24The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?25Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.26They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.27If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:28I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.29If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?30If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;31Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.32For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.33Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.34Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:35Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
3If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.If one wished to contend with God, he could not answer Him one time out of a thousand.If he be pleased to contend with him, He cannot answer him one of a thousand.

In context

Who is speaking and to whom, what is happening, when and where, and why it matters, each with its sources. Coming with the context cards.

Original Hebrew words

EnglishHebrewSay itStrong'sMeaning
ifאִם־'im-H0518A
if

אִם (im) : if/whether_or/though 1) if 1a) conditional clauses 1a1) of possible situations 1a2) of impossible situations 1b) oath contexts 1b1) no, not 1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or 1d) when, whenever 1e) since 1f) interrogative particle 1g) but rather

someone desiresיַ֭חְפֹּץYACH-potzH2654A
to delight in

חָפֵץ (cha.phets) 1) to delight in, take pleasure in, desire, be pleased with 1a) (Qal) 1a1) of men 1a1a) to take pleasure in, delight in 1a1b) to delight, desire, be pleased to do 1a2) of God 1a2a) to delight in, have pleasure in 1a2b) to be pleased to do

to conduct a caseלָרִ֣יבla-RIVH7378
to contend

רִיב (riv) 1) to strive, contend 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to strive 1a1a) physically 1a1b) with words 1a2) to conduct a case or suit (legal), sue 1a3) to make complaint 1a4) to quarrel 1b) (Hiphil) to contend against

with himעִמּ֑וֹi-MOH5973A
with

עִם (im) 1) with 1a) with 1b) against 1c) toward 1d) as long as

notלֹֽא־lo'-H3808
not

לֹא (lo) 1) not, no 1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition) 1b) not (with modifier-negation) 1c) nothing (subst) 1d) without (with particle) 1e) before (of time) Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)

he will answer himיַ֝עֲנֶ֗נּוּya-'a-NE-nuH6030B
to answer

עָנָה (a.nah) 1) to answer, respond, testify, speak, shout 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to answer, respond to 1a2) to testify, respond as a witness 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to make answer 1b2) to be answered, receive answer Aramaic equivalent: a.nah (עֲנָה "to answer" H6032)

one [time]אַחַ֥ת'a-CHATH0259
one

אֶחָד (e.chad) 1) one (number) 1a) one (number) 1b) each, every 1c) a certain 1d) an (indefinite article) 1e) only, once, once for all 1f) one...another, the one...the other, one after another, one by one 1g) first 1h) eleven (in combination), eleventh (ordinal)

fromמִנִּי־mi-ni-H4480A
from

מִן־ (min) prep 1) from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than 1a) from (expressing separation), off, on the side of 1b) out of 1b1) (with verbs of proceeding, removing, expelling) 1b2) (of material from which something is made) 1b3) (of source or origin) 1c) out of, some of, from (partitively) 1d) from, since, after (of time) 1e) than, more than (in comparison) 1f) from...even to, both...and, either...or 1g) than, more than, too much for (in comparisons) 1h) from, on account of, through, because (with infinitive) conj 2) that …

a thousandאָֽלֶף׃'A-lefH0505G
thousand

אֶ֫לֶף (e.leph) : thousand 1) a thousand 1a) as numeral 2) a thousand, company 2a) as a company of men under one leader, troops

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.