1Then answered Job, and said,
2Truly I know that it is so: and how could a mortal be righteous before God?
3If he were desirous to enter into a contest with him, he could not give him one answer out of a thousand.
4He is wise of heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and escaped unscathed?
5[He it is] who removeth mountains, and they know it not, yea, when he overturneth them in his anger;
6Who shaketh the earth loose out of her place, that her pillars tremble;
7Who speaketh to the sun, and he shineth not, and around the stars he placeth a seal;
8Who spread out the heavens by himself alone, and treadeth upon the hillocks of the sea;
9Who made the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers the south;
10Who doth great things which are quite unsearchable, and wonders which are quite without number.
11Lo, were he to go past by me, I should not see him; and were he to pass along, I should not perceive him.
12Behold, were he to snatch aught away, who could hold him back? who would say unto him, What dost thou?
13God will not withdraw his anger: beneath him sink down the helpers of the proud.
14How much less then could I answer him, and select my words [to contend] with him?
15Whom, were I even righteous, I could not answer? to him that condemneth me I could [only] make supplication.
16Or were I to call, and he would answer me, I could yet not believe that he would give ear unto my voice—
17He that bruiseth me with [his] tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without a cause.
18He suffereth me not to recover my breath; but feedeth me overmuch with bitter things.
19If it regard strength, lo, he is the powerful; and if justice, who will cite him for me to appear?
20If I were righteous even, my own mouth would condemn me: were I innocent, it would still prove me perverse.
21I am innocent; I will not have regard for myself: I will despise my life.
22One thing is [certain], therefore have I said it, The innocent and the wicked he bringeth to their end.
23If a scourge should slay suddenly, he will mock at the trial of the guiltless.
24Is a land given up into the hand of the wicked? he covereth the faces of its judges: if this be not the truth, who is it then?
25And my days pass swifter than a runner: they flee away, they see no happiness,
26They hasten along like pirate ships: like the eagle that stoopeth down upon his food.
27If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my sorrowful countenance, and recover my cheerfulness:
28O then would I be in dread of all my pains; I know that thou wilt not declare me innocent.
29I must ever be guilty: why then should I fatigue myself for nought?
30If I were to wash myself in snow-water, to cleanse myself in the purity of my hands:
31Even then wouldst thou plunge me in the ditch, that my own clothes would render me abhorred.
32For he is not a man, like me, that I could answer him, that we should enter together into a contest.
33There is no one who can decide between us, who could lay his hand upon us both.
34Let him but remove from me his rod, and let not his dread terrify me:
35Then would I speak, and not fear him; for the like I feel not within me.