Job 9:5-15

5 Who uproots the mountains in his anger, and they know not who overturned them.
6 Who removes the earth out of her place and causes her pillars to tremble.
7 Who commands the sun, and it rises not; and seals up the stars.
8 He alone extends the heavens and walks upon the waves of the sea.
9 He who made Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the secret places of the south.
10 He who does great things past finding out, and wonders without number.
11 Behold, he shall pass before me, and I shall not see him; and he shall pass on, and I shall not understand him.
12 Behold, he shall take away, who can cause him to restore? Who shall say unto him, What doest thou?
13 God will not withdraw his anger, and under him those who help, unto pride are bent over.
14 How much less shall I answer him and choose out my words to reason with him?
15 Who even though I am righteous, yet I would not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.

Job 9:5-15 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.

The Jubilee Bible (from the Scriptures of the Reformation), edited by Russell M. Stendal, Copyright © 2000, 2001, 2010