¹ Then Job answered and said,

^{2 Ref} I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?

^{3 Ref} If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.

^{4 Ref} He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?

^{5 Ref} Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.

^{6 Ref} Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.

^{7 Ref} Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.

^{8 Ref} Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.

^{9 Ref} Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.

^{10 Ref} Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.

^{11 Ref} Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.

^{12 Ref} Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?

^{13 Ref} If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.

^{14 Ref} How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?

^{15 Ref} Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.

^{16 Ref} If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.

^{17 Ref} For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.

^{18 Ref} He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.

^{19 Ref} If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?

^{20 Ref} If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.

^{21 Ref} Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.

^{22 Ref} This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

^{23 Ref} If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.

^{24 Ref} 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 Ref} Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.

^{26 Ref} They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.

^{27 Ref} If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:

^{28 Ref} I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.

^{29 Ref} If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?

^{30 Ref} If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;

^{31 Ref} Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.

^{32 Ref} For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.

^{33 Ref} Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.

^{34 Ref} 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.