1 T hen Job answered and said,

Then Job answered and said,

2 I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?

Yes, I know it is true. But how can mortal man be right before God?

3 I f he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.

If one should want to contend with Him, he cannot answer one in a thousand.

4 H e is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?

is wise in heart and mighty in strength; who has hardened himself against Him and prospered or even been safe?

5 W hich removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.

Who removes the mountains, and they know it not when He overturns them in His anger;

6 W hich shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.

Who shakes the earth out of its place, and the pillars of it tremble;

7 W hich commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.

Who commands the sun, and it rises not; Who seals up the stars;

8 W hich alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.

Who alone stretches out the heavens and treads upon the waves and high places of the sea;

9 W hich maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.

Who made the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the spaces of the south;

10 W hich doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.

Who does great things past finding out, yes, marvelous things without number.

11 L o, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.

Behold, He goes by me, and I see Him not; He passes on also, but I perceive Him not.

12 B ehold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?

Behold, He snatches away; who can hinder or turn Him back? Who will say to Him, What are You doing?

13 I f God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.

God will not withdraw His anger; the helpers of Rahab bow under Him.

14 H ow much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?

How much less shall I answer Him, choosing out my words to reason with Him

15 W hom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.

Whom, though I were righteous (upright and innocent) yet I could not answer? I must appeal for mercy to my Opponent and Judge.

16 I f I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.

If I called and He answered me, yet would I not believe that He listened to my voice.

17 F or he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.

For He overwhelms and breaks me with a tempest and multiplies my wounds without cause.

18 H e will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.

He will not allow me to catch my breath, but fills me with bitterness.

19 I f I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?

If I speak of strength, behold, He is mighty! And if of justice, Who, says He, will summon Me?

20 I f I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.

Though I am innocent and in the right, my own mouth would condemn me; though I am blameless, He would prove me perverse.

21 T hough I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.

Though I am blameless, I regard not myself; I despise my life.

22 T his is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

It is all one; therefore I say, God destroys the blameless and the wicked.

23 I f the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.

When scourge slays suddenly, He mocks at the calamity and trial of the innocent.

24 T he earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?

The earth is given into the hands of the wicked; He covers the faces of its judges. If it is not, who then is it ?

25 N ow my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.

Now my days are swifter than a runner; they flee away, they see no good.

26 T hey are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.

They are passed away like the swift rowboats made of reeds, or like the eagle that swoops down on the prey.

27 I f I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:

If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad countenance, and be of good cheer and brighten up,

28 I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.

I become afraid of all my pains and sorrows, for I know You will not pronounce me innocent.

29 I f I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?

I shall be held guilty and be condemned; why then should I labor in vain ?

30 I f I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;

If I wash myself with snow and cleanse my hands with lye,

31 y et shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.

Yet You will plunge me into the ditch, and my own clothes will abhor me.

32 F or he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.

For is not a man, as I am, that I should answer Him, that we should come together in court.

33 N either is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.

There is no umpire between us, who might lay his hand upon us both,

34 L et him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:

That He might take His rod away from me, and that the fear of Him might not terrify me.

35 t hen would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.

would I speak and not fear Him, but I am not so in myself.