📖 Job — Chapter 9 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
Job 9:1 Then Job answered and said,
Job 9:2 I know it is so of a truth: but Rhow should man be just Twith God?
Job 9:3 If Rhe will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.
Job 9:4 He is Rwise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?
Job 9:5 Which Rremoveth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.
Job 9:6 Which Rshaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.
Job 9:7 Which Rcommandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.
Job 9:8 RWhich alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the Twaves of the sea.
Job 9:9 Which Rmaketh TArcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.
Job 9:10 Which doeth Rgreat things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.
Job 9:11 Lo, Rhe goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.
Job 9:12 Behold, Rhe taketh away, who can Thinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?
Job 9:13 If God will not withdraw his anger, Rthe Tproud helpers do stoop under him.
Job 9:14 RHow much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?
Job 9:15 Whom, Rthough I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.
Job 9:16 RIf I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.
Job 9:17 RFor he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.
Job 9:18 He Rwill not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.
Job 9:19 If I speak of strength, lo, Rhe is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?
Job 9:20 If I Rjustify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.
Job 9:21 Though I were perfect, Ryet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
Job 9:22 This is one thing, therefore I said it, RHe destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
Job 9:23 RIf the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.
Job 9:24 The Rearth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?
Job 9:25 Now my days are Rswifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.
Job 9:26 They are passed away as the Tswift ships: Ras the eagle that hasteth to the prey.
Job 9:27 If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:
Job 9:28 I am Rafraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
Job 9:29 RIf I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?
Job 9:30 RIf I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;
Job 9:31 Yet Rshalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall Tabhor me.
Job 9:32 For he is Rnot a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.
Job 9:33 Neither Ris there Tany Tdaysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.
Job 9:34 Let him take his rod away from me, and Rlet not his fear terrify me:
Job 9:35 Then would I speak, and not fear him; Rbut Tit is not so with me.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
Job 9:1–13 — God's greatness acknowledged
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Job recognizes God's wisdom and overwhelming power over mountains, earth, sea, and stars. He asks how a human can contend with such a God. The speech shows awe mingled with helplessness. His difficulty is not a simple denial of God's greatness but the question of how someone suffering can approach him.
Key Truth: Recognize greatness without pretending your questions have vanished.
Check What You Remember
1. Who is speaking in this chapter? (Job 9:1)
Find it in Job 9:1 (KJV).
2. Name one star group mentioned. (Job 9:9)
Find it in Job 9:9 (KJV).
3. What does Job say God does beyond finding out? (Job 9:10)
Find it in Job 9:10 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Job 9:14–24 — The difficulty of presenting his case
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Job wants to plead but feels unable to stand before his judge. His bitter words include claims about innocent suffering and injustice. These express the dispute from his anguished perspective; the book does not ask readers to treat every conclusion in the speech as God's own assessment. His appeal needs hearing before correction.
Key Truth: Distinguish a sufferer's questions from a settled verdict about God.
Check What You Remember
1. To whom would Job make supplication? (Job 9:15)
Find it in Job 9:15 (KJV).
2. What weather image describes his wounds? (Job 9:17)
Find it in Job 9:17 (KJV).
3. What does he fear would condemn him if he justified himself? (Job 9:20)
Find it in Job 9:20 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Job 9:25–35 — A longing for a mediator
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Job describes rapidly passing days and his inability to make himself safe by declaring innocence. He longs for a daysman who could stand between him and God and remove his terror. The immediate text voices a need for mediated access; later Christian readers may connect that need with Christ without claiming Job fully states that later teaching here.
Key Truth: Hear the longing for help in approaching God.
Check What You Remember
1. What fast messenger pictures Job's days? (Job 9:25)
Find it in Job 9:25 (KJV).
2. What intermediary does he say is missing? (Job 9:33)
Find it in Job 9:33 (KJV).
3. What does he want removed so he can speak? (Job 9:34)
Find it in Job 9:34 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
1 Timothy 2:5 — The New Testament names Christ as mediator between God and humanity.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
What helps you bring fear and helplessness before God rather than keep them hidden?
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. What difficulty does Job identify in contending with God?
2. How do the creation examples enlarge Job’s description of God’s power?
3. What makes Job hesitate to justify himself?
4. How do the post, ships, and eagle work together?
5. What is Job seeking in the image of a daysman?
Notes
Write what you want to remember, questions to explore, or Scriptures to look up later. Your saved notes are private to your account.
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