1 T hen Job answered and said,

Then Job answered and said,

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

Of a truth I know that it is so: But how can man be just with God?

3 I f one should want to contend with Him, he cannot answer one in a thousand.

If he be pleased to contend with him, He cannot answer him one of a thousand.

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

He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: Who hath hardened himself against him, and prospered?-

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

Him that removeth the mountains, and they know it not, When he overturneth them in his anger;

6 W ho shakes the earth out of its place, and the pillars of it tremble;

That shaketh the earth out of its place, And the pillars thereof tremble;

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

That commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, And sealeth up the stars;

8 W ho alone stretches out the heavens and treads upon the waves and high places of the sea;

That alone stretcheth out the heavens, And treadeth upon the waves of the sea;

9 W ho made the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the spaces of the south;

That maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the chambers of the south;

10 W ho does great things past finding out, yes, marvelous things without number.

That doeth great things past finding out, Yea, marvellous things without number.

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

Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: He passeth on also, but I perceive him not.

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

Behold, he seizeth the prey, who can hinder him? Who will say unto him, What doest thou?

13 G od will not withdraw His anger; the helpers of Rahab bow under Him.

God will not withdraw his anger; The helpers of Rahab do stoop under him.

14 H ow much less shall I answer Him, choosing out my words to reason with Him

How much less shall I answer him, And choose out my words to reason with him?

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

Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer; I would make supplication to my judge.

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

If I had called, and he had answered me, Yet would I not believe that he hearkened unto my voice.

17 F or He overwhelms and breaks me with a tempest and multiplies my wounds without cause.

For he breaketh me with a tempest, And multiplieth my wounds without cause.

18 H e will not allow me to catch my breath, but fills me with bitterness.

He will not suffer me to take my breath, But filleth me with bitterness.

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

If we speak of strength, lo, he is mighty! And if of justice, Who, saith he, will summon me?

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

Though I be righteous, mine own mouth shall condemn me: Though I be perfect, it shall prove me perverse.

21 T hough I am blameless, I regard not myself; I despise my life.

I am perfect; I regard not myself; I despise my life.

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

It is all one; therefore I say, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

23 W hen scourge slays suddenly, He mocks at the calamity and trial of the innocent.

If the scourge slay suddenly, He will mock at the trial of the innocent.

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

The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He covereth the faces of the judges thereof: If it be not he, who then is it?

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

Now my days are swifter than a post: They flee away, they see no good,

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

They are passed away as the swift ships; As the eagle that swoopeth on the prey.

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

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

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

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

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

I shall be condemned; Why then do I labor in vain?

30 I f I wash myself with snow and cleanse my hands with lye,

If I wash myself with snow water, And make my hands never so clean;

31 Y et You will plunge me into the ditch, and my own clothes will abhor me.

Yet wilt thou plunge me in the ditch, And mine own clothes shall abhor me.

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

For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, That we should come together in judgment.

33 T here is no umpire between us, who might lay his hand upon us both,

There is no umpire betwixt us, That might lay his hand upon us both.

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

Let him take his rod away from me, And let not his terror make me afraid:

35 w ould I speak and not fear Him, but I am not so in myself.

Then would I speak, and not fear him; For I am not so in myself.