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AUGUST 9

AUGUST 9
9:15,20 though I were righteous. He means
here, not sinless, but having spiritual integrity,
Job 9:1–10:22 i.e., a pure heart to love, serve, and obey God.
9 Then Job answered and said: He was affirming again that his suffering was
not due to sins he was not willing to confess.
2 “Truly I know it is so, Even at that, God found something to con-
demn him for,he felt,making it hopeless,then,
But how can a man be righteous before to contend with God.
God?
3 If one wished to contend with Him,
He could not answer Him one time out And if of justice, who will appoint my
of a thousand. day in court?
4 God is wise in heart and mighty in 20 Though I were righteous, my own
strength. mouth would condemn me;
Who has hardened himself against Him Though I were blameless, it would
and prospered? prove me perverse.
5 He removes the mountains, and they 21
do not know “I am blameless, yet I do not know
When He overturns them in His anger; myself;
6 He shakes the earth out of its place, 22 I despise my life.
And its pillars tremble; It is all one thing;
7 He commands the sun, and it does not Therefore I say, ‘He destroys the
rise; 23 blameless and the wicked.’
He seals off the stars; If the scourge slays suddenly,
8 He alone spreads out the heavens, 24 He laughs at the plight of the innocent.
And treads on the waves of the sea; The earth is given into the hand of the
9 He made the Bear, Orion, and the wicked.
Pleiades, He covers the faces of its judges.
And the chambers of the south; If it is not He, who else could it be?
10 He does great things past finding out, 25 “Now my days are swifter than a runner;
Yes, wonders without number. They flee away, they see no good.
11 If He goes by me, I do not see Him; 26 They pass by like swift ships,
If He moves past, I do not perceive Him; Like an eagle swooping on its prey.
12 If He takes away, who can hinder Him? 27 If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint,
Who can say to Him, ‘What are You I will put off my sad face and wear a
doing?’ smile,’
13 God will not withdraw His anger, 28 I am afraid of all my sufferings;
The allies of the proud lie prostrate I know that You will not hold me
beneath Him. innocent.
29
14 “How then can I answer Him, If I am condemned,
And choose my words to reason with 30 Why then do I labor in vain?
Him? If I wash myself with snow water,
15 For though I were righteous, I could 31 And cleanse my hands with soap,
not answer Him; Yet You will plunge me into the pit,
I would beg mercy of my Judge. And my own clothes will abhor me.
16 If I called and He answered me, 32 “For He is not a man, as I am,
I would not believe that He was That I may answer Him,
listening to my voice. And that we should go to court
17 For He crushes me with a tempest, together.
And multiplies my wounds without 33 Nor is there any mediator between us,
cause. Who may lay his hand on us both.
18 He will not allow me to catch my breath, 34 Let Him take His rod away from me,
But fills me with bitterness. And do not let dread of Him terrify me.
19 If it is a matter of strength, indeed He 35 Then I would speak and not fear Him,
is strong; But it is not so with me.

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