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


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Everything King James Bible:Job
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to: Job
Book: Job
Chapter: 9

Overview:
Job acknowledges God's Justice. (1-13) He is not able to
contend with God. (14-21) Men not to be judged By outward
condition. (22-24) Job complains of troubles. (25-35)

1-13 In this answer Job declared that he did not doubt the
Justice of God, when he denied himself to be a Hypocrite; for
how should Man be just with God? Before him he pleaded guilty of
sins more than could be counted; and if God should contend with
him in Judgment, he could not justify one out of a thousand, of
all the thoughts, words, and actions of his Life; therefore he
deserved worse than all his present sufferings. When Job
mentions the Wisdom and power of God, he forgets his complaints.
We are unfit to Judge of God's proceedings, because we know not
what he does, or what he designs. God Acts with power which No
Creature can resist. Those who think they have strength enough
to help others, will not be able to help themselves against it.

14-21 Job is still righteous in his own eyes, ch. 32:1, and
this answer, though it sets forth the power and majesty of God,
implies that the question between the afflicted and the Lord of
Providence, is a question of might, and not of right; and we
begin to discover the evil fruits of pride and of a
self-righteous Spirit. Job begins to manifest a disposition to
condemn God, that he may justify himself, for which he is
afterwards reproved. Still Job knew So much of himself, that he
durst not stand a trial. If we say, We have No Sin, we not only
deceive ourselves, but we affront God; for we Sin in saying So,
and give the Lie to the Scripture. But Job reflected On God's
Goodness and Justice in saying his affliction was without cause.

22-24 Job touches briefly upon the main point now in dispute.
His friends maintained that those who are righteous and good,
always prosper in this world, and that none but the wicked are
in misery and distress: he said, On the contrary, that it is a
common thing for the wicked to prosper, and the righteous to be
greatly afflicted. Yet there is too much Passion in what Job
here says, for God doth not afflict willingly. When the Spirit
is heated with dispute or with discontent, we have need to set a
watch before our lips.

25-35 What little need have we of pastimes, and what great need
to redeem time, when it runs On So Fast towards eternity! How
vain the enjoyments of time, which we may quite lose while yet
time continues! The remembrance of having done our duty will be
pleasing afterwards; So will not the remembrance of having got
worldly wealth, when it is all lost and gone. Job's complaint of
God, as one that could not be appeased and would not relent, was
the language of his corruption. There is a Mediator, a Daysman,
or Umpire, for us, even God's own beloved Son, who has purchased
peace for us with the Blood of his Cross, who is able to save to
the uttermost all who come unto God through him. If we trust in
his name, our sins will be buried in the depths of The Sea, we
shall be washed from all our filthiness, and made whiter than
Snow, So that none can lay any thing to our charge. We shall be
clothed with the robes of Righteousness and Salvation, adorned
with the graces of the Holy Spirit, and presented faultless
before the presence of his Glory with exceeding joy. May we
learn the difference between justifying ourselves, and being
thus justified By God himself. Let the tempest-tossed soul
consider Job, and notice that others have passed this dreadful
gulf; and though they found it hard to believe that God would
hear or deliver them, yet he rebuked the storm, and brought them
to the desired Haven. Resist the Devil; give not place to hard
thoughts of God, or desperate conclusions about thyself. Come to
Him who invites the weary and heavy laden; who promises in
No Wise to cast them out.

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