[1] Then Job answered and said,
[2] I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?
[3] If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.
[4] He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who has hardened himself against him, and has prospered?
[5] Which removes the mountains, and they know not: which overturns them in his anger.
[6] Which shakes the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.
[7] Which commands the sun, and it rises not; and seals up the stars.
[8] Which alone spreads out the heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea.
[9] Which makes Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.
[10] Which does great things past finding out; yes, and wonders without number.
[11] See, he goes by me, and I see him not: he passes on also, but I perceive him not.
[12] Behold, he takes away, who can hinder him? who will say to him, What do you?
[13] If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.
[14] How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?
[15] Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.
[16] If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had listened to my voice.
[17] For he breaks me with a tempest, and multiplies my wounds without cause.
[18] He will not suffer me to take my breath, but fills me with bitterness.
[19] If I speak of strength, see, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?
[20] If I justify myself, my own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.
[21] Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
[22] This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroys the perfect and the wicked.
[23] If the whip slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.
[24] The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covers the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?
[25] Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.
[26] They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hastens to the prey.
[27] 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 you will not hold me innocent.
[29] If I be wicked, why then labor I in vain?
[30] If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;
[31] Yet shall you plunge me in the ditch, and my own clothes shall abhor me.
[32] For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.
[33] Neither is there any judge between us, that might lay his hand on us both.
[34] Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:
[35] Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.
