| Geneva Study Bible I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be {a} just with God? (a) Job here answers Eliphaz and Bildad's oration, touching the justice of God, and his innocency, confessing God to be infinite in justice and man to be nothing in respect. Wesley's Notes 9:2 I know - That God is just in all his ways, that he doth ordinarily bless the righteous, and punish the wicked. Before God - And I know that no man is absolutely just, if God be severe to mark what is amiss in him. King James Translators' Notes with God: or, before God? Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary 2. I know it is so of a truth-that God does not "pervert justice" (Job 8:3). But (even though I be sure of being in the right) how can a mere man assert his right-(be just) with God. The Gospel answers (Ro 3:26). Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 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. | 
