Job 9:7-17

7 qui praecipit soli et non oritur et stellas claudit quasi sub signaculo

8 qui extendit caelos solus et graditur super fluctus maris

9 qui facit Arcturum et Oriona et Hyadas et interiora austri

10 qui facit magna et inconprehensibilia et mirabilia quorum non est numerus

11 si venerit ad me non videbo si abierit non intellegam eum

12 si repente interroget quis respondebit ei vel quis dicere potest cur facis

13 Deus cuius resistere irae nemo potest et sub quo curvantur qui portant orbem

14 quantus ergo sum ego qui respondeam ei et loquar verbis meis cum eo

15 qui etiam si habuero quippiam iustum non respondebo sed meum iudicem deprecabor

16 et cum invocantem exaudierit me non credo quod audierit vocem meam

17 in turbine enim conteret me et multiplicabit vulnera mea etiam sine causa

Job 9:7-17 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 9

This and the following chapter contain Job's answer to Bildad, and in this he asserts the strict justice at God; which is such, that no man can be just in his sight, not being able to answer to one charge, or for one sin, of a thousand he is guilty of, Job 9:1-3; and that such are his wisdom and power, that the most daring man cannot expect to succeed in an opposition to him, Job 9:4; instances are given of his power in the works of nature and providence, Job 9:5-10; notice is taken of the imperceptibleness of his actions and motions, and of his sovereignty in all his ways, Job 9:11,12; and of his fierce wrath and anger, which is such as obliges the proudest of men to stoop under him; and therefore Job chose not to contend in a judicial way with him, but in a suppliant manner would entreat him, since his hand was so heavy upon him, Job 9:13-21; he affirms, in direct opposition to Bildad and his friends, and insists upon it, that God afflicts both the righteous and the wicked; yea, gives the earth to the latter when he slays the former, Job 9:22-24; he then observes the shortness of his days, and complains of his heavy afflictions, Job 9:25-28; and concludes, that it was in vain for him to expect his cause to be heard before God, there being no daysman between them; and wishes that the dread of the Divine Majesty might be taken from him, and then he would freely and without fear speak unto him, Job 9:29-35.