9:2 I know [it is] so of a truth: but how should man be a just
with God?
(a) Job here answers Eliphaz and Bildad's oration, touching
the justice of God, and his innocency, confessing God to
be infinite in justice and man to be nothing in respect.
9:3 If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a
b thousand.
(b) Of a thousand things, which God could lay to his charge,
man cannot answer him one.
9:6 Which c shaketh the earth out of her place, and the
pillars thereof tremble.
(c) He declares the infirmity of man, by the mighty and
incomprehensible power that is in God, showing what he
could do if he would set forth his power.
9:9 Which maketh d Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the
chambers of the south.
(d) These are the names of certain stars by which he means
that all stars both known and unknown are at his
appointment.
9:11 Lo, he goeth e by me, and I see [him] not: he passeth on
also, but I perceive him not.
(e) I am not able to comprehend his works, which are common
and daily before my eyes, much less in those things,
which are hid and secret.
9:12 Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? f who will
say unto him, What doest thou?
(f) He shows that when God executes his power, he does it
justly, as no one can control him.
9:13 [If] God g will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers
h do stoop under him.
(g) God will not be appeased for anything that man can say
for himself for his justification.
(h) That is, all the reasons that men can lay to approve
their cause.
9:14 How much less shall I answer him, [and] choose out i my
words [to reason] with him?
(i) How should I be able to answer him by eloquence? By
which he notes his friends, who although they were
eloquent in talk, did not believe in their hearts, that
which they spoke.
9:15 Whom, though I were righteous, [yet] would I k not
answer, [but] I would make supplication to my judge.
(k) Meaning, in his own opinion, signifying that man will
sometimes flatter himself to be righteous which before
God is an abomination.
9:16 If I l had called, and he had answered me; [yet] would I
not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.
(l) While I am in pain I cannot break forth into many
inconveniences although I still know that God is just.
9:17 For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my
wounds m without cause.
(m) I am not able to feel my sins so great, as I feel the
weight of his plagues; and this he speaks to condemn
his dullness and to justify God.
9:19 If [I speak] of strength, lo, [he is] n strong: and if of
judgment, who shall set me a time [to plead]?
(n) After he has accused his own weakness, he continues to
justify God and his power.
9:20 If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: o
[if I say], I [am] perfect, it shall also prove me
perverse.
(o) If I stood in my own defence yet God would have just
cause to condemn me if he examined my heart and
conscience.
9:22 This [is] one [thing], therefore I said [it], He destroyeth
the p perfect and the wicked.
(p) If God punishes according to his justice, he will
destroy them who are counted perfect as well as them
that are wicked.
9:23 If the scourge q slay suddenly, he will r laugh at the
trial of the innocent.
(q) That is, the wicked.
(r) This is spoken according to our apprehension, as though
he would say, If God destroyed only the wicked,
(Job 5:3), why would he allow the innocent to be so
long tormented by them?
9:24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: s he
covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where,
[and] who t [is] he?
(s) That they cannot see to do justice.
(t) That can show the contrary?
9:27 If u I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off
my heaviness, and comfort [myself]:
(u) I think not to fall into these afflictions, but my
sorrows bring me to these manifold infirmities, and my
conscience condemns me.
9:29 [If] I be wicked, why then x labour I in vain?
(x) Why does God not destroy me at once? thus he speaks
according to the infirmity of the flesh.
9:30 If I wash y myself with snow water, and make my hands
never so clean;
(y) Though I seem pure in my own eyes, yet all is but
corruption before God.
9:31 Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own z
clothes shall abhor me.
(z) Whatever I would use to cover my filthiness with, it
would disclose me even more.
9:33 Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, a [that] might
lay his hand upon us both.
(a) Who might make an accord between God and me, speaking
of impatience, and yet confessing God to be just in
punishing him.
9:35 [Then] would I speak, and not fear him; b but [it is] not
so with me.
(b) Signifying that God's judgments keep him in awe.
