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?

“Truly I know it is so, But how can a man be righteous before God?

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

If one wished to contend with Him, He could not answer Him one time out 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?

God is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who has hardened himself against Him and prospered?

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

He removes the mountains, and they do not know When He overturns them in His anger;

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

He shakes the earth out of its place, And its pillars tremble;

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

He commands the sun, and it does not rise; He seals off the stars;

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

He alone spreads out the heavens, And treads on the waves of the sea;

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

He made 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.

He does great things past finding out, Yes, wonders without number.

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

If He goes by me, I do not see Him; If He moves past, I do not perceive Him;

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

If He takes away, who can hinder Him? Who can say to Him, ‘What are You doing?’

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

God will not withdraw His anger, The allies of the proud lie prostrate beneath Him.

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

“How then can I answer Him, And choose 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.

For though I were righteous, I could not answer Him; I would beg mercy of my Judge.

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

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

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

For He crushes me with a tempest, And multiplies my wounds without cause.

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

He will not allow me to catch my breath, But fills 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 it is a matter of strength, indeed He is strong; And if of justice, who will appoint my day in court?

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 were righteous, my own mouth would condemn me; Though I were blameless, it would prove me perverse.

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

“I am blameless, yet I do not know 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 thing; Therefore I say, ‘He destroys the blameless and the wicked.’

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

If the scourge slays suddenly, He laughs at the plight 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 covers the faces of its judges. If it is not He, who else could it be?

25 N ow my days are swifter than a runner; 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 like the swift rowboats made of reeds, or like the eagle that swoops down on the prey.

They pass by like swift ships, Like an eagle swooping on its 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 face and wear a smile,’

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 sufferings; I know that You will not hold me innocent.

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

If I am 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 cleanse my hands with soap,

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

Yet You will plunge me into the pit, And my own clothes will 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 may answer Him, And that we should go to court together.

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

Nor is there any mediator between us, Who may lay his hand on 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 do not let dread of Him terrify me.

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

Then I would speak and not fear Him, But it is not so with me.