Job's lament leads into the first cycle of speeches, in which the friends' explanations are challenged by Job's experience.

1. 9:1 Then Job answered and said,
2. 9:2 I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?
3. 9:3 If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.
4. 9:4 He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?
5. 9:5 Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.
6. 9:6 Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.
7. 9:7 Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.
8. 9:8 Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.
9. 9:9 Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.
10. 9:10 Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.
11. 9:11 Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.
12. 9:12 Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?
13. 9:13 If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.
14. 9:14 How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?
15. 9:15 Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.
16. 9:16 If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.
17. 9:17 For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.
18. 9:18 He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.
19. 9:19 If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?
20. 9:20 If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.
21. 9:21 Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
22. 9:22 This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
23. 9:23 If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.
24. 9:24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?
25. 9:25 Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.
26. 9:26 They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.
27. 9:27 If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:
28. 9:28 I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
29. 9:29 If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?
30. 9:30 If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;
31. 9:31 Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.
32. 9:32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.
33. 9:33 Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.
34. 9:34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:
35. 9:35 Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.