1 T hen Job answered,

Then Job answered,

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

“Truly I know that it is so, but how can man be just with 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 he is pleased to contend with him, he can’t answer him one time in a thousand.

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

God who is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who has hardened himself against him, and prospered?

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

He removes the mountains, and they don’t know it, when he overturns them in his anger.

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

He shakes the earth out of its place. Its pillars tremble.

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

He commands the sun, and it doesn’t rise, and seals up the stars.

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

He alone stretches out the heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea.

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

He makes the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the rooms of the south.

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

He 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 don’t see him. He passes on also, but I don’t perceive him.

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 him? Who will ask 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 stoop 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, And choose my words to argue with him?

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

Though I were righteous, yet I wouldn’t answer him. I would make supplication to my judge.

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

If I had called, and he had answered me, yet I wouldn’t 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 breaks me with a storm, 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 it is a matter of strength, behold, he is mighty! 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 righteous, my own mouth shall condemn me. Though I am blameless, it shall prove me perverse.

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

I am blameless. I don’t respect 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 the same. Therefore I say he 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.

If the scourge kills suddenly, he will mock at the 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 hand of the wicked. He covers the faces of its judges. If not he, then who 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 have passed away as the swift ships, as the eagle that swoops 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 face, and cheer up;’

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

I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that you will not hold me innocent.

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

I shall be condemned. Why then do 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 in the ditch. My own clothes shall 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 he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, that we should come together in judgment.

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

There is no umpire between us, that might lay his hand on us both.

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

Let him take his rod away from me. Let his terror not make me afraid;

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

then I would speak, and not fear him, for I am not so in myself.