Job 9:8-18

8 He stretches out the heavens by himself and walks on the waves of the sea.
9 He made [the constellations] Ursa Major, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the clusters of stars in the south.
10 He does great things that are unsearchable and miracles that cannot be numbered.
11 He passes alongside of me, and I don't even see him. He goes past me, and I don't even notice him.
12 He takes something away, [but] who can stop him? Who is going to ask him, 'What are you doing?'
13 God does not hold back his anger. Even Rahab's helpers bow humbly in front of him.
14 "How can I possibly answer God? How can I find the right words [to speak] with him?
15 Even if I were right, I could not answer [him]. I would have to plead for mercy from my judge.
16 If I cried out and he answered me, I do not believe that he would listen to me.
17 He would knock me down with a storm and bruise me without a reason.
18 He would not let me catch my breath. He fills me with bitterness.

Job 9:8-18 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.

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