Then Job
answered and said,
02 I know it is so of a truth: but how should man
be just with God?
03 If he will contend with him, he cannot answer
him one of a thousand.
04 He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength:
who hath hardened himself against him, and hath
prospered?
05 Which removeth the mountains, and they know
not: which overturneth them in his anger.
06 Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and
the pillars thereof tremble.
07 Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not;
and sealeth up the stars.
08 Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and
treadeth upon the waves of the sea.
09 Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades,
and the chambers of the south.
10 Which doeth great things past finding out;
yea, and wonders without number.
11 Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he
passeth on also, but I perceive him not.
12 Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him?
who will say unto him, What doest thou?
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 hearkened unto my
voice.
17 For he breaketh me with a tempest, and
multiplieth my wounds without cause.
18 He will not suffer me to take my breath, but
filleth me with bitterness.
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19 If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and
if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?
20 If I justify myself, mine 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
destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
23 If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at
the trial of the innocent.
24 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?
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 hasteth 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
thou wilt not hold me innocent.
29 If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?
30 If I wash myself with snow water, and make my
hands never so clean;
31 Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and
mine 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 daysman betwixt us, that
might lay his hand upon 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.
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