1And Iyoḇ answered and said,

2“Truly I know it is so. But how is man right with Elohim?

3If one wished to dispute with Him, he would not answer Him one time out of a thousand.

4Wise in heart and mighty in strength – who has hardened himself against Him and is at peace?

5He who removes mountains, and they do not know it, when He overturns them in His displeasure;

6who shakes the earth out of its place, and its columns tremble;

7who commands the sun, and it does not rise; and He seals up the stars,

8stretching out the heavens by Himself, and treading upon the waves of the sea;

9who made Ash, Kesil, and Kimah, and the rooms of the south;

10who performs great and unsearchable deeds, and innumerable wonders.

11Look, He goes by me, and I do not see; and He moves past, but I do not discern Him.

12Look, He snatches away, who brings it back? Who says to Him, ‘What are You doing?’

13Eloah does not turn back His dis-pleasure, the helpers of pride stoop under Him.

14How much less would I answer Him, choose my words with Him?

15For though I were righteous, I would not answer Him. I pray to Him for my right-ruling.

16Though I had called and He answered me, I would not believe that He was listening to my voice.

17For He crushes me with a storm, and has multiplied my wounds for no cause.

18He does not allow me to recover my breath, but fills me with bitterness.

19If I speak of power? Look, He is mighty. And if of right-ruling? Who sets me a time?

20If I am righteous? My mouth would declare me wrong. Am I perfect? It would declare me perverse.

21Am I perfect? Do I not know my own being? I despise my life!

22It is all the same, therefore I say, ‘He destroys the perfect and the wrong.’

23If the scourge slays suddenly, He laughs at the trial of the innocent.

24Earth has been given into the hand of the wrong. He covers the faces of its judges. If it is not He, then who is it?

25My days have become swifter than a runner – they have fled, they have not seen good.

26They have passed by like swift ships, like an eagle swooping on its prey.

27If I say, ‘Let me forget my complaint, let me put off my sad face, and let me smile,’

28I shall be afraid of all my sufferings. I know that You do not hold me innocent.

29If I am wrong, why should I labour in vain?

30If I washed myself with snow water, and cleansed my hands with soap,

31then You would plunge me into a ditch, and my garments shall abhor me.

32For He is not a man as I am that I answer Him, and we come together into right-ruling.

33There is no mediator between us, to lay his hand upon us both.

34Let Him take His rod away from me, and let His dread frighten me.

35Then I would speak and not fear Him, for I am not so within myself.