1 | Then Job answered and said, |
2 | Of a truth I know that it is so: But how can man be just with God? |
3 | If he be pleased to contend with him, He cannot answer him one of a thousand. |
4 | [He is] wise in heart, and mighty in strength: Who hath hardened himself against him, and prospered?- |
5 | [Him] that removeth the mountains, and they know it not, When he overturneth them in his anger; |
6 | That shaketh the earth out of its place, And the pillars thereof tremble; |
7 | That commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, And sealeth up the stars; |
8 | That alone stretcheth out the heavens, And treadeth upon the waves of the sea; |
9 | That maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the chambers of the south; |
10 | That doeth great things past finding out, Yea, marvellous things without number. |
11 | Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: He passeth on also, but I perceive him not. |
12 | Behold, he seizeth [the prey], who can hinder him? Who will say unto him, What doest thou? |
13 | God will not withdraw his anger; The helpers of Rahab do stoop under him. |
14 | How much less shall I answer him, And choose out my words [to reason] with him? |
15 | Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer; I would make supplication to my judge. |
16 | If I had called, and he had answered me, Yet would I not believe that he hearkened unto my voice. |
17 | For he breaketh me with a tempest, And multiplieth my wounds without cause. |
18 | He will not suffer me to take my breath, But filleth me with bitterness. |
19 | If [we speak] of strength, lo, [he is] mighty! And if of justice, Who, [saith he], will summon me? |
20 | Though I be righteous, mine own mouth shall condemn me: Though I be perfect, it shall prove me perverse. |
21 | I am perfect; I regard not myself; I despise my life. |
22 | It is all one; therefore I say, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked. |
23 | If the scourge slay suddenly, He will mock at the trial of the innocent. |
24 | The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He covereth the faces of the judges thereof: If [it be] not [he], who then is it? |
25 | Now my days are swifter than a post: They flee away, they see no good, |
26 | They are passed away as the swift ships; As the eagle that swoopeth on the prey. |
27 | If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will put off my [sad] countenance, and be of good cheer; |
28 | I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent. |
29 | I shall be condemned; Why then do I labor in vain? |
30 | If I wash myself with snow water, And make my hands never so clean; |
31 | Yet wilt thou plunge me in the ditch, And mine own clothes shall abhor me. |
32 | For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, That we should come together in judgment. |
33 | There is no umpire betwixt us, That might lay his hand upon us both. |
34 | Let him take his rod away from me, And let not his terror make me afraid: |
35 | Then would I speak, and not fear him; For I am not so in myself. |