2I know [it is] so of a truth: but how should man be just with God-Elohim (The Living Word) [The Many Powered]?

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

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

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

6Which shakes the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.

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

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

9Which makes ‘Ash (Arcturus) [bear watcher], Kesil (Orion) [The Fool], and Kimah (Pleiades) [a cluster], and the chambers of the south.

10Which does great things past finding out; yes, 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 youⁱ?

13[If] God-Elohim (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.

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

15Whom, though I were righteous, [yet] would 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 listened unto my voice.

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

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

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

20If I justify myself, my 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.

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

23If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.

24The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covers the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, [and] who [is] he?

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

26They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle [that] hastes 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 youⁱ will not hold me innocent.

29[If] I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?

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

31Yet shall youⁱ 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 judgment.

33Neither is there any arbitrator 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:

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