1 A nd Job answered and said,

2 O f a truth I know it is so; but how can man be just with God?

3 I f he shall choose to strive with him, he cannot answer him one thing of a thousand.

4 H e is wise in heart and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and had peace?

5 W ho removeth mountains, and they know it not, when he overturneth them in his anger;

6 W ho shaketh the earth out of its place, and the pillars thereof tremble;

7 W ho commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, and he sealeth up the stars;

8 W ho alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the high waves of the sea;

9 W ho maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south;

10 W ho doeth great things past finding out, and wonders without number.

11 L o, he goeth by me, and I see not; and he passeth along, and I perceive him not.

12 B ehold, he taketh away: who will hinder him? Who will say unto him, What doest thou?

13 + God withdraweth not his anger; the proud helpers stoop under him:

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

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

16 I f I had called, and he had answered me, I would not believe that he hearkened to my voice,—

17 H e, who crusheth me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.

18 H e suffereth me not to take my breath, for he filleth me with bitternesses.

19 B e it a question of strength, lo, strong; and be it of judgment, who will set me a time?

20 I f I justified myself, mine own mouth would condemn me; were I perfect, he would prove me perverse.

21 W ere I perfect, would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.

22 I t is all one; therefore I said, he destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

23 I f the scourge kill suddenly, he mocketh at the trial of the innocent.

24 T he earth is given over into the hand of the wicked; he covereth the faces of its judges. If not, who then is it?

25 A nd my days are swifter than a runner: they flee away, they see no good.

26 T hey pass by like skiffs of reed; as an eagle that swoops upon the prey.

27 I f I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my countenance, and brighten up,

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

29 B e it that I am wicked, why then do I labour in vain?

30 I f I washed myself with snow-water, and cleansed my hands in purity,

31 T hen wouldest thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine 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.

33 T here is not an umpire between us, who should 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 I will speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.