1 T hen Job answered and said,

¶ Then Job answered and said,

2 I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?

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

3 I f he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.

If he desires to contend with him, he will not be able to 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 hath prospered?

He is wise in heart and mighty in strength; who has hardened himself against him and remained in peace?

5 W hich removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.

Who uproots the mountains in his anger, and they know not who overturned them.

6 W hich shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.

Who removes the earth out of her place and causes her pillars to tremble.

7 W hich commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.

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

8 W hich alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.

He alone extends the heavens and walks upon the waves of the sea.

9 W hich maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.

He who made Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the secret places of the south.

10 W hich doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.

He who does great things past finding out, and wonders without number.

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

Behold, he shall pass before me, and I shall not see him; and he shall pass on, and I shall not understand him.

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

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

13 I f God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.

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

14 H ow 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 hom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.

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

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

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

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

For he has broken me with a tempest and has multiplied my wounds without cause.

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

He will not suffer me to take my breath but has filled me with bitterness.

19 I f I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?

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

20 I f I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.

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

21 T hough I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.

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

22 T his is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

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

23 I f the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.

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

24 T he earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?

The 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?

25 N ow my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.

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

26 T hey are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.

They are passed away as the ships of Ebeh as the eagle that throws himself 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 leave off my heaviness and comfort myself;

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

I am afraid of all my troubles; I know that thou wilt not hold me guiltless.

29 I f I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?

If I am wicked, why then shall I toil 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 shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.

yet thou shalt plunge me into the pit, and my 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 in judgment.

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

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

Neither is there any arbiter between us, that might lay his hand upon us both.

34 L et him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:

Let him take his tormentor away from me, and his terror will not perturb me.

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

Then I would speak and not fear him, because in this state I am not myself.