| 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. |