| 1 | And Job answered and said, |
| 2 | Of a truth I know it is so; but how can man be just with �God? |
| 3 | If he shall choose to strive with him, he cannot answer him one thing of a thousand. |
| 4 | He is wise in heart and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and had peace? |
| 5 | Who removeth mountains, and they know it not, when he overturneth them in his anger; |
| 6 | Who shaketh the earth out of its place, and the pillars thereof tremble; |
| 7 | Who commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, and he sealeth up the stars; |
| 8 | Who alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the high waves of the sea; |
| 9 | Who maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south; |
| 10 | Who doeth great things past finding out, and wonders without number. |
| 11 | Lo, he goeth by me, and I see [him] not; and he passeth along, and I perceive him not. |
| 12 | Behold, he taketh away: who will hinder him? Who will say unto him, What doest thou? |
| 13 | +God withdraweth not his anger; the proud helpers stoop under him: |
| 14 | How much less shall I answer him, choose out my words [to strive] 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, I would not believe that he hearkened to my voice, -- |
| 17 | He, who crusheth me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause. |
| 18 | He suffereth me not to take my breath, for he filleth me with bitternesses. |
| 19 | Be it a question of strength, lo, [he is] strong; and be it of judgment, who will set me a time? |
| 20 | If I justified myself, mine own mouth would condemn me; were I perfect, he would prove me perverse. |
| 21 | Were I perfect, [yet] would I not know my soul: I would despise my life. |
| 22 | It is all one; therefore I said, he destroyeth the perfect and the wicked. |
| 23 | If the scourge kill suddenly, he mocketh at the trial of the innocent. |
| 24 | The earth is given over into the hand of the wicked [man]; he covereth the faces of its judges. If not, who then is it? |
| 25 | And my days are swifter than a runner: they flee away, they see no good. |
| 26 | They pass by like skiffs of reed; as an eagle that swoops upon the prey. |
| 27 | If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my [sad] countenance, and brighten up, |
| 28 | I am afraid of all my sorrows; I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent. |
| 29 | Be it that I am wicked, why then do I labour in vain? |
| 30 | If I washed myself with snow-water, and cleansed my hands in purity, |
| 31 | Then wouldest thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes would 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 not an umpire between us, who should 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] I will speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me. |