1 A nd Job answered and said,

Then Job answered and said,

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

Yes, I know it is true. But how can mortal man be right before God?

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

If one should want to contend with Him, he cannot answer one in a thousand.

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

is wise in heart and mighty in strength; who has hardened himself against Him and prospered or even been safe?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Who alone stretches out the heavens and treads upon the waves and high places of the sea;

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

Who made the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the spaces of the south;

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

Who does great things past finding out, yes, marvelous things without number.

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

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

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

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

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

God will not withdraw His anger; the helpers of Rahab bow under Him.

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

How much less shall I answer Him, choosing out my words to reason with Him

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

Whom, though I were righteous (upright and innocent) yet I could not answer? I must appeal for mercy to my Opponent and Judge.

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

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

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

For He overwhelms and breaks me with a tempest and multiplies my wounds without cause.

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

He will not allow me to catch my breath, but fills me with bitterness.

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

If I speak of strength, behold, He is mighty! And if of justice, Who, says He, will summon Me?

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

Though I am innocent and in the right, my own mouth would condemn me; though I am blameless, He would prove me perverse.

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

Though I am blameless, I regard not myself; I despise my life.

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

It is all one; therefore I say, God destroys the blameless and the wicked.

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

When scourge slays suddenly, He mocks at the calamity and 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?

The earth is given into the hands of the wicked; He covers the faces of its judges. If it is not, who then is it ?

25 A nd 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 pass by like skiffs of reed; as an eagle that swoops upon the prey.

They are passed away like the swift rowboats made of reeds, or like the eagle that swoops down on the prey.

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

If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad countenance, and be of good cheer and brighten up,

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

I become afraid of all my pains and sorrows, for I know You will not pronounce me innocent.

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

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

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

If I wash myself with snow and cleanse my hands with lye,

31 T hen wouldest thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes would abhor me.

Yet You will plunge me into the ditch, and my own clothes will 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 is not a man, as I am, that I should answer Him, that we should come together in court.

33 T here is not an umpire between us, who should lay his hand upon us both.

There is no umpire 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,

That He might take His rod away from me, and that the fear of Him might not terrify me.

35 I will speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.

would I speak and not fear Him, but I am not so in myself.