91 And Job made answer and said, 2 Truly, I see that it is so: and how is it possible for a man to get his right before God? 3 If a man was desiring to go to law with him, he would not be able to give him an answer to one out of a thousand questions. 4 He is wise in heart and great in strength: who ever made his face hard against him, and any good came of it? 5 It is he who takes away the mountains without their knowledge, overturning them in his wrath: 6 Who is moving the earth out of its place, so that its pillars are shaking: 7 Who gives orders to the sun, and it does not give its light; and who keeps the stars from shining. 8 By whose hand the heavens were stretched out, and who is walking on the waves of the sea: 9 Who made the Bear and Orion, and the Pleiades, and the store-houses of the south: 10 Who does great things not to be searched out; yes, wonders without number. 11 See, he goes past me and I see him not: he goes on before, but I have no knowledge of him. 12 If he puts out his hand to take, by whom may it be turned back? who may say to him, What are you doing? 13 God's wrath may not be turned back; the helpers of Rahab were bent down under him.
14 How much less may I give an answer to him, using the right words in argument with him? 15 Even if my cause was good, I would not be able to give an answer; I would make request for grace from him who was against me. 16 If I had sent for him to be present, and he had come, I would have no faith that he would give ear to my voice. 17 For I would be crushed by his storm, my wounds would be increased without cause. 18 He would not let me take my breath, but I would be full of bitter grief. 19 If it is a question of strength, he says, Here I am! and if it is a question of a cause at law, he says, Who will give me a fixed day? 20 Though I was in the right, he would say that I was in the wrong; I have done no evil; but he says that I am a sinner. 21 I have done no wrong; I give no thought to what becomes of me; I have no desire for life.
22 It is all the same to me; so I say, He puts an end to the sinner and to him who has done no wrong together. 23 If death comes suddenly through disease, he makes sport of the fate of those who have done no wrong. 24 The land is given into the power of the evil-doer; the faces of its judges are covered; if not by him, then who has done it?
25 My days go quicker than a post-runner: they go in flight, they see no good. 26 They go rushing on like reed-boats, like an eagle dropping suddenly on its food. 27 If I say, I will put my grief out of mind, I will let my face be sad no longer and I will be bright; 28 I go in fear of all my pains; I am certain that I will not be free from sin in your eyes. 29 You will not let me be clear of sin! why then do I take trouble for nothing? 30 If I am washed with snow water, and make my hands clean with soap; 31 Then you will have me pushed into the dust, so that I will seem disgusting to my very clothing.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Job 9:1-31
Commentary on Job 9:1-13
(Read Job 9:1-13)
In this answer Job declared that he did not doubt the justice of God, when he denied himself to be a hypocrite; for how should man be just with God? Before him he pleaded guilty of sins more than could be counted; and if God should contend with him in judgment, he could not justify one out of a thousand, of all the thoughts, words, and actions of his life; therefore he deserved worse than all his present sufferings. When Job mentions the wisdom and power of God, he forgets his complaints. We are unfit to judge of God's proceedings, because we know not what he does, or what he designs. God acts with power which no creature can resist. Those who think they have strength enough to help others, will not be able to help themselves against it.
Commentary on Job 9:14-21
(Read Job 9:14-21)
Job is still righteous in his own eyes, 1, and this answer, though it sets forth the power and majesty of God, implies that the question between the afflicted and the Lord of providence, is a question of might, and not of right; and we begin to discover the evil fruits of pride and of a self-righteous spirit. Job begins to manifest a disposition to condemn God, that he may justify himself, for which he is afterwards reproved. Still Job knew so much of himself, that he durst not stand a trial. If we say, We have no sin, we not only deceive ourselves, but we affront God; for we sin in saying so, and give the lie to the Scripture. But Job reflected on God's goodness and justice in saying his affliction was without cause.
Commentary on Job 9:22-24
(Read Job 9:22-24)
Job touches briefly upon the main point now in dispute. His friends maintained that those who are righteous and good, always prosper in this world, and that none but the wicked are in misery and distress: he said, on the contrary, that it is a common thing for the wicked to prosper, and the righteous to be greatly afflicted. Yet there is too much passion in what Job here says, for God doth not afflict willingly. When the spirit is heated with dispute or with discontent, we have need to set a watch before our lips.
Commentary on Job 9:25-35
(Read Job 9:25-35)
What little need have we of pastimes, and what great need to redeem time, when it runs on so fast towards eternity! How vain the enjoyments of time, which we may quite lose while yet time continues! The remembrance of having done our duty will be pleasing afterwards; so will not the remembrance of having got worldly wealth, when it is all lost and gone. Job's complaint of God, as one that could not be appeased and would not relent, was the language of his corruption. There is a Mediator, a Daysman, or Umpire, for us, even God's own beloved Son, who has purchased peace for us with the blood of his cross, who is able to save to the uttermost all who come unto God through him. If we trust in his name, our sins will be buried in the depths of the sea, we shall be washed from all our filthiness, and made whiter than snow, so that none can lay any thing to our charge. We shall be clothed with the robes of righteousness and salvation, adorned with the graces of the Holy Spirit, and presented faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. May we learn the difference between justifying ourselves, and being thus justified by God himself. Let the tempest-tossed soul consider Job, and notice that others have passed this dreadful gulf; and though they found it hard to believe that God would hear or deliver them, yet he rebuked the storm, and brought them to the desired haven. Resist the devil; give not place to hard thoughts of God, or desperate conclusions about thyself. Come to Him who invites the weary and heavy laden; who promises in nowise to cast them out.