Job Speaks

1Then Job answered and said,

2I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just before God?

3If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.

4He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who has hardened himself against him, and has prospered?

5Who removes the mountains, and they know not: who overturns them in his anger.

6Who shakes the earth out of its place, and the pillars thereof tremble.

7Who commands the sun, and it rises not; and seals up the stars.

8Who alone spreads out the heavens, and treads upon the waves of the sea.

9Who makes the Bear, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.

10Who does great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.

11Lo, he goes by me, and I see him not: he passes on also, but I perceive him not.

12Behold, he takes away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What do you?

13If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do bow before him.

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

15For, though I were righteous, yet could I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.

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

17For he breaks me with a tempest, and multiplies my wounds without cause.

18He will not permit me to take my breath, but fills me with bitterness.

19If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of justice, who shall set me a time to plead?

20If I justify myself, my own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am blameless, it shall also prove me perverse.

21Though I were blameless, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.

22This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroys the blameless and the wicked.

23If the scourge slays suddenly, he will laugh at the plight of the innocent.

24The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covers the faces of its judges; if not he, who then is it?

25Now my days are swifter than a runner: they flee away, they see no good.

26They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hastens to the prey.

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

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

29If I am wicked, why then labor I in vain?

30If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands ever so clean;

31Yet shall you plunge me in the ditch, and my own clothes shall abhor me.

32For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in trial.

33Neither is there any mediator between us, that might lay his hand upon us both.

34Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:

35Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.