1 T hen Job answered and said,

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

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

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

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

6 T hat shaketh the earth out of its place, And the pillars thereof tremble;

7 T hat commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, And sealeth up the stars;

8 T hat alone stretcheth out the heavens, And treadeth upon the waves of the sea;

9 T hat maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the chambers of the south;

10 T hat doeth great things past finding out, Yea, marvellous things without number.

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

12 B ehold, 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 do stoop under him.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

23 I f the scourge slay suddenly, He will mock at the 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 it be not he, who then is it?

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

26 T hey 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;

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

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

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

31 Y et wilt thou plunge me in the ditch, And mine own clothes shall abhor me.

32 F or 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 betwixt us, That might lay his hand upon us both.

34 L et him take his rod away from me, And let not his terror make me afraid:

35 T hen would I speak, and not fear him; For I am not so in myself.