¹ Then Job answered,

^{2 Ref} "Truly I know that it is so, But how can man be just with God?

^{3 Ref} If he is pleased to contend with him, He can't answer him one time in a thousand.

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

^{5 Ref} Who removes the mountains, and they don't know it, When he overturns them in his anger

^{6 Ref} Who shakes the earth out of its place; The pillars of it tremble;

^{7 Ref} Who commands the sun, and it doesn't rise, And seals up the stars;

^{8 Ref} Who alone stretches out the heavens, Treads on the waves of the sea;

^{9 Ref} Who makes the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the chambers of the south;

^{10 Ref} Who does great things past finding out, Yes, marvelous things without number.

^{11 Ref} Behold, he goes by me, and I don't see him. He passes on also, but I don't perceive him.

^{12 Ref} Behold, he snatches away; who can hinder him? Who will ask him, 'What are you doing?'

^{13 Ref} "God will not withdraw his anger; The helpers of Rahab stoop under him.

^{14 Ref} How much less shall I answer him, Choose my words to argue with him?

^{15 Ref} Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer. 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 listened to my voice.

^{17 Ref} For he breaks me with a tempest, Multiplies my wounds without cause.

^{18 Ref} He will not allow me to take my breath, But fills me with bitterness.

^{19 Ref} If it is a matter of strength, behold, he is mighty! If of justice, 'Who,' says he, 'will summon me?'

^{20 Ref} Though I am righteous, my own mouth shall condemn me. Though I am blameless, it shall prove me perverse.

^{21 Ref} I am blameless. I don't regard myself. I despise my life.

^{22 Ref} "It is all the same. Therefore I say, He destroys the blameless and the wicked.

^{23 Ref} If the scourge kills suddenly, He will mock at the trial of the innocent.

^{24 Ref} The earth is given into the hand of the wicked. He covers the faces of the judges of it. If not he, then who is it?

^{25 Ref} "Now my days are swifter than a runner. They flee away, they see no good,

^{26 Ref} They have passed away as the swift ships, As the eagle that swoops on the prey.

^{27 Ref} If I say, 'I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad face, and cheer up;'

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

^{29 Ref} I shall be condemned; Why then do I labor in vain?

^{30 Ref} If I wash myself with snow, And cleanse my hands with lye,

^{31 Ref} Yet you will plunge me in the ditch. My own clothes shall abhor me.

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

^{33 Ref} There is no umpire between us, That might lay his hand on us both.

^{34 Ref} Let him take his rod away from me, Let his terror not make me afraid:

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