Job 9:5-15

5 Who is removing mountains, And they have not known, Who hath overturned them in His anger.

6 Who is shaking earth from its place, And its pillars move themselves.

7 Who is speaking to the sun, and it riseth not, And the stars He sealeth up.

8 Stretching out the heavens by Himself, And treading on the heights of the sea,

9 Making Osh, Kesil, and Kimah, And the inner chambers of the south.

10 Doing great things till there is no searching, And wonderful, till there is no numbering.

11 Lo, He goeth over by me, and I see not, And He passeth on, and I attend not to it.

12 Lo, He snatches away, who bringeth it back? Who saith unto Him, `What dost Thou?'

13 God doth not turn back His anger, Under Him bowed have proud helpers.

14 How much less do I -- I answer Him? Choose out my words with Him?

15 Whom, though I were righteous, I answer not, For my judgment I make supplication.

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.