Job 9:4-14

4 He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath resisted him, and hath had peace?

5 Who hath removed mountains, and they whom he overthrew in his wrath, knew it not.

6 Who shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.

7 Who commandeth the sun, and it riseth not: and shutteth up the stars, as it were, under a seal:

8 Who alone spreadeth out the heavens, and walketh upon the waves of the sea

9 Who maketh Arcturus, and Orion, and Hyades, and the inner parts of the south.

10 Who doth things great and incomprehensible, and wonderful, of which there is no number.

11 If he come to me, I shall not see him: if he depart, I shall not understand.

12 If he examine on a sudden, who shall answer him? or who can say: Why dost thou so?

13 God, whose wrath no man can resist, and under whom they stoop that bear up the world.

14 What am I then, that I should answer him, and have words with him?

Job 9:4-14 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.