1 T hen Job answered and said,

Then Job answered,

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

“In truth I know that this is so; But how can a man be in the right before God?

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

“If one wished to dispute with Him, He could not answer Him once in a thousand times.

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

“ Wise in heart and mighty in strength, Who has defied Him without harm?

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

“ It is God who removes the mountains, they know not how, When He overturns them in His anger;

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

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

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

Who commands the sun not to shine, And sets a seal upon the stars;

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

Who alone stretches out the heavens And tramples down the waves of the sea;

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

Who makes 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.

Who does great things, unfathomable, And wondrous works without number.

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

“Were He to pass by me, I would not see Him; Were He to move past me, I would not perceive Him.

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

“Were He to snatch away, who could restrain Him? Who could say to Him, ‘ What are You doing?’

13 G od will not withdraw his anger; The helpers of Rahab do stoop under him.

“God will not turn back His anger; Beneath Him crouch the helpers of Rahab.

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

“How then can I answer Him, And choose my words before Him?

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

“For though I were right, I could not answer; I would have to implore the mercy of my judge.

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

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

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

“For He bruises 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 get my breath, But saturates me with bitterness.

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

“If it is a matter of power, behold, He is the strong one! And if it is a matter of justice, who can summon Him?

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

“ Though I am righteous, my mouth will condemn me; Though I am guiltless, He will declare me guilty.

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

“I am guiltless; I do not take notice of myself; I despise my life.

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

“It is all one; therefore I say, ‘He destroys the guiltless and the wicked.’

23 I f the scourge slay suddenly, He will mock at the trial of the innocent.

“If the scourge kills suddenly, He mocks the despair 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?

“The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He covers the faces of its judges. If it is not He, then who 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 swoopeth on the prey.

“They slip by like reed boats, Like an eagle that swoops 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;

“Though I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my sad countenance and be cheerful,’

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

I am afraid of all my pains, I know that You will not acquit me.

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

“I am accounted wicked, Why then should I toil in vain?

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

“If I should wash myself with snow And cleanse my hands with lye,

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

Yet You would plunge me into the pit, And my own clothes would 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.

“For He is not a man as I am that I may answer Him, That we may go to court together.

33 T here is no umpire betwixt us, That might lay his hand upon us both.

“There is no umpire between us, Who may lay his hand upon us both.

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

“Let Him remove His rod from me, And let not dread of Him terrify me.

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

“ Then I would speak and not fear Him; But I am not like that in myself.