1. |
Then Job answered and said, |
2. |
I know it to be so of a truth: but how should man be just with God? |
3. |
If he will 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 hath prospered? |
5. |
Who removeth the mountains, and they know not: who overturneth them in his anger. |
6. |
Who shaketh the earth out of her place, and its pillars tremble. |
7. |
Who commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars. |
8. |
Who alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea. |
9. |
Who maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south. |
10. |
Who doeth great things past finding out; yes, and wonders 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 taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say to him, What doest thou? |
13. |
If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers 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, but I would make supplication to my judge. |
16. |
If I had called, and he had answered me; yet I would not believe that he had hearkened to 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 I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead? |
20. |
If I justify myself, my own mouth will condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, that also will prove me perverse. |
21. |
Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life. |
22. |
This is one thing, therefore I said it, he destroyeth the perfect and the wicked. |
23. |
If the scourge shall slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent. |
24. |
The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of its judges; if not, where, and who is he? |
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 hasteth to the prey. |
27. |
If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself: |
28. |
I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent. |
29. |
If I am wicked, 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 my own clothes shall abhor me. |
32. |
For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment. |
33. |
Neither is there any judge between us, that might lay his hand upon us both. |
34. |
Let him take away his rod from me, and let not his fear terrify me: |
35. |
Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me. |