1 Then Job answered,
2
“In truth I know that this is so; But how can a man be in the right before God?
3
-“If one wished to dispute with Him, He could not answer Him once in a thousand times.
4
-“Wise in heart and mighty in strength, Who has defied Him without harm?
5
-“It is God who removes the mountains, they know not how, When He overturns them in His anger;
6
Who shakes the earth out of its place, And its pillars tremble;
7
Who commands the sun not to shine, And sets a seal upon the stars;
8
Who alone stretches out the heavens And tramples down the waves of the sea;
9
Who makes the Bear, Orion and the Pleiades, And the chambers of the south;
10
Who does great things, unfathomable, And wondrous works without number.
11
-“Were He to pass by me, I would not see Him; Were He to move past me, I would not perceive Him.
12
-“Were He to snatch away, who could restrain Him? Who could say to Him, ‘What are You doing?’
13
“God will not turn back His anger; Beneath Him crouch the helpers of Rahab.
14
-“How then can I answer Him, And choose my words before Him?
15
-“For though I were right, I could not answer; I would have to implore the mercy of my judge.
16
-“If I called and He answered me, I could not believe that He was listening to my voice.
17
-“For He bruises me with a tempest And multiplies my wounds without cause.
18
-“He will not allow me to get my breath, But saturates me with bitterness.
19
-“If it is a matter of power, behold, He is the strong one! And if it is a matter of justice, who can summon Him?
20
-“Though I am righteous, my mouth will condemn me; Though I am guiltless, He will declare me guilty.
21
-“I am guiltless; I do not take notice of myself; I despise my life.
22
-“It is all one; therefore I say, ‘He destroys the guiltless and the wicked.’
23
-“If the scourge kills suddenly, He mocks the despair of the innocent.
24
-“The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He covers the faces of its judges. If it is not He, then who is it?
25
“Now my days are swifter than a runner; They flee away, they see no good.
26
-“They slip by like reed boats, Like an eagle that swoops on its prey.
27
-“Though I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my sad countenance and be cheerful,’
28
I am afraid of all my pains, I know that You will not acquit me.
29
-“I am accounted wicked, Why then should I toil in vain?
30
-“If I should wash myself with snow And cleanse my hands with lye,
31
Yet You would plunge me into the pit, And my own clothes would abhor me.
32
-“For He is not a man as I am that I may answer Him, That we may go to court together.
33
-“There is no umpire between us, Who may lay his hand upon us both.
34
-“Let Him remove His rod from me, And let not dread of Him terrify me.
35
-“Then I would speak and not fear Him; But I am not like that in myself.
1. Then Job answered,
2.
“In truth I know that this is so; But how can a man be in the right before God?
3.
-“If one wished to dispute with Him, He could not answer Him once in a thousand times.
4.
-“Wise in heart and mighty in strength, Who has defied Him without harm?
5.
-“It is God who removes the mountains, they know not how, When He overturns them in His anger;
6.
Who shakes the earth out of its place, And its pillars tremble;
7.
Who commands the sun not to shine, And sets a seal upon the stars;
8.
Who alone stretches out the heavens And tramples down the waves of the sea;
9.
Who makes the Bear, Orion and the Pleiades, And the chambers of the south;
10.
Who does great things, unfathomable, And wondrous works without number.
11.
-“Were He to pass by me, I would not see Him; Were He to move past me, I would not perceive Him.
12.
-“Were He to snatch away, who could restrain Him? Who could say to Him, ‘What are You doing?’
13.
“God will not turn back His anger; Beneath Him crouch the helpers of Rahab.
14.
-“How then can I answer Him, And choose my words before Him?
15.
-“For though I were right, I could not answer; I would have to implore the mercy of my judge.
16.
-“If I called and He answered me, I could not believe that He was listening to my voice.
17.
-“For He bruises me with a tempest And multiplies my wounds without cause.
18.
-“He will not allow me to get my breath, But saturates me with bitterness.
19.
-“If it is a matter of power, behold, He is the strong one! And if it is a matter of justice, who can summon Him?
20.
-“Though I am righteous, my mouth will condemn me; Though I am guiltless, He will declare me guilty.
21.
-“I am guiltless; I do not take notice of myself; I despise my life.
22.
-“It is all one; therefore I say, ‘He destroys the guiltless and the wicked.’
23.
-“If the scourge kills suddenly, He mocks the despair of the innocent.
24.
-“The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He covers the faces of its judges. If it is not He, then who is it?
25.
“Now my days are swifter than a runner; They flee away, they see no good.
26.
-“They slip by like reed boats, Like an eagle that swoops on its prey.
27.
-“Though I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my sad countenance and be cheerful,’
28.
I am afraid of all my pains, I know that You will not acquit me.
29.
-“I am accounted wicked, Why then should I toil in vain?
30.
-“If I should wash myself with snow And cleanse my hands with lye,
31.
Yet You would plunge me into the pit, And my own clothes would abhor me.
32.
-“For He is not a man as I am that I may answer Him, That we may go to court together.
33.
-“There is no umpire between us, Who may lay his hand upon us both.
34.
-“Let Him remove His rod from me, And let not dread of Him terrify me.
35.
-“Then I would speak and not fear Him; But I am not like that in myself.
