1 | 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. |
32 | For he is not a man as I am, that I might give him an answer, that we might come together before a judge. |
33 | There is no one to give a decision between us, who might have control over us. |
34 | Let him take away his rod from me and not send his fear on me: |
35 | Then I would say what is in my mind without fear of him; for there is no cause of fear in myself. |