Then Job
answered
and said,
I know
it is so of a truth:
but how should man
be just
with God?
If he will
contend
with him, he cannot answer
him one
of a thousand.
He is wise
in heart,
and mighty
in strength:
who hath hardened
himself against him, and hath prospered?
Which removeth
the mountains,
and they know
not: which overturneth
them in his anger.
Which shaketh
the earth
out of her place,
and the pillars
thereof tremble.
Which commandeth
the sun,
and it riseth
not; and sealeth up
the stars.
Which alone spreadeth out
the heavens,
and treadeth
upon the waves
of the sea.
Which maketh
Arcturus,
Orion,
and Pleiades,
and the chambers
of the south.
Which doeth
great things
past
finding out;
yea, and wonders
without number.
Lo, he goeth
by me, and I see
him not: he passeth on
also, but I perceive
him not.
Behold, he taketh away,
who can hinder
him? who will say
unto him, What doest
thou?
If God
will not withdraw
his anger,
the proud
helpers
do stoop
under him.
How much less shall I answer
him, and choose out
my words
to reason with him?
Whom, though I were righteous,
yet would I not answer,
but I would make supplication
to my judge.
If I had called,
and he had answered
me; yet would I not believe
that he had hearkened
unto my voice.
For he breaketh
me with a tempest,
and multiplieth
my wounds
without cause.
He will not suffer
me to take
my breath,
but filleth
me with bitterness.
If I speak of strength,
lo, he is strong:
and if of judgment,
who shall set
me a time to plead?
If I justify
myself, mine own mouth
shall condemn
me: if I say, I am perfect,
it shall also prove me perverse.
Though I were perfect,
yet would I not know
my soul:
I would despise
my life.
This is one
thing, therefore I said
it, He destroyeth
the perfect
and the wicked.
If the scourge
slay
suddenly,
he will laugh
at the trial
of the innocent.
The earth
is given
into the hand
of the wicked:
he covereth
the faces
of the judges
thereof; if not, where,
and who is he?
Now my days
are swifter
than a post:
they flee away,
they see
no good.
They are passed away
as
the swift
ships:
as the eagle
that hasteth
to the prey.
If I say,
I will forget
my complaint,
I will leave off
my heaviness,
and comfort
myself:
I am afraid
of all my sorrows,
I know
that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
If I be wicked,
why then labour
I in vain?
If I wash
myself with
snow water,
and make my hands
never
so clean;
Yet
shalt thou plunge
me in the ditch,
and mine own clothes
shall abhor
me.
For he is not a man,
as I am, that I should answer
him, and we should come
together
in judgment.
Neither is
there any daysman
betwixt us, that might lay
his hand
upon us both.
Let him take
his rod
away
from me, and let not his fear
terrify
me:
Then would I speak,
and not fear
him; but it is not so with me.
