^[1]  Then Job answered and said,

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^[2]  Of a truth I know that it is so: But how can man be just with God?

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^[3]  If he be pleased to contend with him, He cannot answer him one of a thousand.

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^[4]  He iswise in heart, and mighty in strength: Who hath hardened himself against him, and prospered?—

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^[5]  Himthat removeth the mountains, and they know it not, When he overturneth them in his anger;

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^[6]  That shaketh the earth out of its place, And the pillars thereof tremble;

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^[7]  That commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, And sealeth up the stars;

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^[8]  That alone stretcheth out the heavens, And treadeth upon the waves of the sea;

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^[9]  That maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the chambers of the south;

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^[10]  That doeth great things past finding out, Yea, marvellous things without number.

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^[11]  Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: He passeth on also, but I perceive him not.

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^[12]  Behold, he seizeth the prey, who can hinder him? Who will say unto him, What doest thou?

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^[13]  God will not withdraw his anger; The helpers of Rahab do stoop under him.

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^[14]  How much less shall I answer him, And choose out my words to reason with him?

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^[15]  Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer; I would make supplication to my judge.

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^[16]  If I had called, and he had answered me, Yet would I not believe that he hearkened unto my voice.

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^[17]  For he breaketh me with a tempest, And multiplieth my wounds without cause.

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^[18]  He will not suffer me to take my breath, But filleth me with bitterness.

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^[19]  Ifwe speakof strength, lo, he ismighty! And if of justice, Who, saith he, will summon me?

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^[20]  Though I be righteous, mine own mouth shall condemn me: Though I be perfect, it shall prove me perverse.

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^[21]  I am perfect; I regard not myself; I despise my life.

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^[22]  It is all one; therefore I say, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

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^[23]  If the scourge slay suddenly, He will mock at the trial of the innocent.

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^[24]  The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He covereth the faces of the judges thereof: Ifit benothe, who then is it?

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^[25]  Now my days are swifter than a post: They flee away, they see no good.

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^[26]  They are passed away as the swift ships; As the eagle that swoopeth on the prey.

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^[27]  If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad countenance, and be of good cheer;

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

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^[29]  I shall be condemned; Why then do I labor in vain?

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^[30]  If I wash myself with snow water, And make my hands never so clean;

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^[31]  Yet wilt thou plunge me in the ditch, And mine own clothes shall abhor me.

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^[32]  For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, That we should come together in judgment.

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^[33]  There is no umpire betwixt us, That might lay his hand upon us both.

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^[34]  Let him take his rod away from me, And let not his terror make me afraid:

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^[35]  Then would I speak, and not fear him; For I am not so in myself.

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