1 T hen Job answered,

Then Job answered and said,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

6 H e shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars shake.

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

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

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

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

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

9 H e makes the Bear, Orion and the Pleiades and the stars of the south.

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

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

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

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

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

12 I f He takes away, who can stop Him? Who could say to Him, ‘What are You doing?’

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

13 “ God will not stop His anger. The helpers of Rahab bow under Him.

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

14 H ow then can I answer Him, and choose the right words to speak with Him?

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

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

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 called and He answered me, I could not believe that He was listening to my voice.

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

17 F or He crushes me with a storm, and hurts me more and more without a reason.

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

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

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

19 I f 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?

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

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

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

21 E ven though I am without blame, I do not care about myself. I hate my life.

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

22 I t is all the same, so I say, ‘He destroys both those who are without blame and the sinful.’

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

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

When scourge slays suddenly, He mocks at the calamity and trial of the innocent.

24 T he 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?

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

Now my days are swifter than a runner; they flee away, they see no good.

26 T hey go by like fast boats, like an eagle coming down to catch its food.

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 complaining. I will put off my sad face and be happy,’

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

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

29 B ecause I am already guilty, why should I try for nothing?

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

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

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

31 Y ou would still throw me down into a deep hole. And my own clothes would hate 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 may answer Him, that we might go to trial together.

For is not a man, as I am, that I should answer Him, that we should come together in court.

33 T here is no one to decide between us, who might lay his hand upon us both.

There is no umpire between us, who might lay his hand upon us both,

34 L et Him stop punishing me. And do not let fear of Him make me so afraid.

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

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

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