Job 9

“Then Job answered and said,” Naming Job keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.” The line’s distinctive content terms include anger, know, mountains. Its relationship to verses 4 and 6 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.” The line’s distinctive content terms include earth, pillars, place. Its relationship to verses 5 and 7 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.” The line’s distinctive content terms include commandeth, riseth, sealeth. Its relationship to verses 6 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.” The line’s distinctive content terms include heavens, spreadeth, treadeth. Its relationship to verses 9 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.” Naming Arcturus and Orion keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.” The line’s distinctive content terms include doeth, finding, number. Its relationship to verses 9 and 11 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.” The line’s distinctive content terms include goeth, passeth, perceive. Its relationship to verses 10 and 12 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.” The line’s distinctive content terms include answer, judge, righteous. Its relationship to verses 16 shows what work it does in this passage.

“If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.” The line’s distinctive content terms include believe, hearkened, voice. Its relationship to verses 15 and 17 shows what work it does in this passage.

“For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.” The line’s distinctive content terms include bitterness, breath, filleth. Its relationship to verses 17 and 19 shows what work it does in this passage.

“If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.” Naming Though keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.” The line’s distinctive content terms include innocent, laugh, scourge. Its relationship to verses 22 and 24 shows what work it does in this passage.

“The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.” The line’s distinctive content terms include days, flee, good. Its relationship to verses 24 and 26 shows what work it does in this passage.

“They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.” The line’s distinctive content terms include eagle, hasteth, passed. Its relationship to verses 25 and 27 shows what work it does in this passage.

“If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:” The line’s distinctive content terms include comfort, complaint, forget. Its relationship to verses 26 and 28 shows what work it does in this passage.

“I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.” The line’s distinctive content terms include afraid, hold, innocent. Its relationship to verses 27 shows what work it does in this passage.

“If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;” The line’s distinctive content terms include clean, hands, myself. Its relationship to verses 29 and 31 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.” Naming Neither keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:” The line’s distinctive content terms include fear, terrify. Its relationship to verses 33 and 35 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.” The line’s distinctive content terms include fear. Its relationship to verses 34 shows what work it does in this passage.