Job

1Then Job answered and said,

2I know {it is} so of a truth: but how should man be just with God? {with God: or, before God?}

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 hath hardened {himself} against him, and hath prospered?

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

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

7Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.

8Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea. {waves: Heb. heights}

9Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south. {Arcturus...: Heb. Ash, Cesil, and Cimah}

10Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.

11Lo, he goeth by me, and I see {him} not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.

12Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou? {hinder...: Heb. turn him away?}

13{If} God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him. {proud...: Heb. helpers of pride, or, strength}

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 hearkened unto my voice.

17For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.

18He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth 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, mine 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 destroyeth 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 covereth 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} hasteth to the prey. {swift...: or, ships of Ebeh: Heb. ships of desire}

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 thou wilt 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 shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me. {abhor...: or, make me to be abhorred}

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 daysman betwixt us, {that} might lay his hand upon us both. {any...: Heb. one that should argue} {daysman: or, umpire}

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. {it is...: Heb. I am not so with myself}