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?

“Yes, I know this is true. But how can a man be right and good before God?

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

If one wished to argue with Him, he would not be able to answer one out of a thousand of His questions.

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

He is wise in heart and powerful in strength. Who has ever stood against Him without being hurt?

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

It is He Who takes away the mountains without their knowing it, when He destroys them in His anger.

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

He shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars shake.

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

He tells the sun not to shine, and He keeps the stars from shining.

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

He alone spreads out the heavens and walks upon the waves of the sea.

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

He makes the Bear, Orion and the Pleiades and the stars of the south.

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

He does things too great for us to understand, and more wonderful works than we can number.

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

When He passes by me, I do not see Him. When He goes by me, I do not know Him.

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

If He takes away, who can stop 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 stop 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 then can I answer Him, and choose the right words to speak with Him?

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

Even if I am right, I cannot answer Him. I must beg Him who is against me to have pity.

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 crushes me with a storm, and hurts me more and more without a reason.

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

He will not let me get my breath, but fills me with much that is bitter.

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 question of power, see, He is the strong one! If it is a question of what is right and fair, who can call Him to a trial?

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

Even if I were right, my mouth would say that I am guilty. Even if I were without blame, He would say I am guilty.

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

Even though I am without blame, I do not care about myself. I hate my life.

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

It is all the same, so I say, ‘He destroys both those who are without blame and the sinful.’

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

If death comes fast by disease, He makes fun of the trouble of those who have done no wrong.

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 sinful. 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,

“My days go faster than a runner. They fly away, and see no good.

26 T hey are passed away as the swift ships; As the eagle that swoopeth on the prey.

They go by like fast boats, like an eagle coming down to catch its food.

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

If I say, ‘I will forget my complaining. I will put off my sad face and be happy,’

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

I am still afraid of all my pains for I know You will not take away my guilt.

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

Because I am already guilty, why should I try for nothing?

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

If I wash myself with snow and clean my hands using the best soap,

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

You would still throw me down into a deep hole. And my own clothes would hate 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 might go to trial together.

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

There is no one to decide between us, who 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:

Let Him stop punishing me. And do not let fear of Him make me so afraid.

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

Then I would speak and not be afraid of Him. But I am not like that in myself.