1 ¶ Then Job answered and said,

Then Job answered and said,

2 I know it is so of a truth, but how shall a man be justified with God?

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

3 I f he desires to contend with him, he will not be able to answer him one thing of a thousand.

If 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 has hardened himself against him and remained in peace?

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

5 W ho uproots the mountains in his anger, and they know not who overturned them.

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

6 W ho removes the earth out of her place and causes her pillars to tremble.

That shaketh the earth out of its place, And the pillars thereof tremble;

7 W ho commands the sun, and it rises not; and seals up the stars.

That commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, And sealeth up the stars;

8 H e alone extends the heavens and walks upon the waves of the sea.

That alone stretcheth out the heavens, And treadeth upon the waves of the sea;

9 H e who made Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the secret places of the south.

That maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the chambers of the south;

10 H e who does great things past finding out, and wonders without number.

That doeth great things past finding out, Yea, marvellous things without number.

11 B ehold, he shall pass before me, and I shall not see him; and he shall pass on, and I shall not understand him.

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

12 B ehold, he shall take away, who can cause him to restore? Who shall say unto him, What doest thou?

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

13 G od will not withdraw his anger, and under him those who help, unto pride are bent over.

God will not withdraw his anger; The helpers of Rahab do stoop under him.

14 ¶ How much less shall I answer him and choose out my words to reason with him?

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

15 W ho even though I am righteous, yet I would not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.

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

16 W ho if I were to invoke him, and he answered me; yet I would not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.

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

17 F or he has broken me with a tempest and has multiplied my wounds without cause.

For he breaketh me with a tempest, And multiplieth my wounds without cause.

18 H e will not suffer me to take my breath but has filled me with bitterness.

He will not suffer me to take my breath, But filleth me with bitterness.

19 I f we were to speak of his strength, he is certainly strong; and if of his judgment, who shall cause us to meet?

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

20 I f I justify myself, my own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, he shall prove me perverse.

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

21 I f I say I am imperfect, I know not my soul; I would condemn my life.

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

22 ¶ One thing remains, that I say, He consumes the perfect and the wicked.

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

23 I f it is the scourge, it slays suddenly, and it does not laugh at the trial of the innocent.

If 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 covers the faces of its judges; if it is not he who does this then, who is it and where is he?

The 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 ¶ Now my days are swifter than a post; they fled away, they never saw good.

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

26 T hey are passed away as the ships of Ebeh as the eagle that throws himself on the prey.

They 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 leave off my heaviness and comfort myself;

If 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 troubles; I know that thou wilt not hold me guiltless.

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

29 I f I am wicked, why then shall I toil in vain?

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;

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

31 y et thou shalt plunge me into the pit, and my own clothes shall abhor me.

Yet 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, and we should come together unto judgment.

For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, That we should come together in judgment.

33 N either is there any arbiter between us, that might lay his hand upon us both.

There is no umpire betwixt us, That might lay his hand upon us both.

34 L et him take his tormentor away from me, and his terror will not perturb me.

Let him take his rod away from me, And let not his terror make me afraid:

35 T hen I would speak and not fear him, because in this state I am not myself.

Then would I speak, and not fear him; For I am not so in myself.