1
Then Job answered:
2
"Indeed I know that this is so;
but how can a mortal be just before God?
3
If one wished to contend with him,
one could not answer him once in a thousand.
4
He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength
--who has resisted him, and succeeded?--
5
he who removes mountains, and they do not know it,
when he overturns them in his anger;
6
who shakes the earth out of its place,
and its pillars tremble;
7
who commands the sun, and it does not rise;
who seals up the stars;
8
who alone stretched out the heavens
and trampled the waves of the Sea; 1
9
who made the Bear and Orion,
the Pleiades and the chambers of the south;
10
who does great things beyond understanding,
and marvelous things without number.
11
Look, he passes by me, and I do not see him;
he moves on, but I do not perceive him.
12
He snatches away; who can stop him?
Who will say to him, "What are you doing?'
13
"God will not turn back his anger;
the helpers of Rahab bowed beneath him.
14
How then can I answer him,
choosing my words with him?
15
Though I am innocent, I cannot answer him;
I must appeal for mercy to my accuser. 2
16
If I summoned him and he answered me,
I do not believe that he would listen to my voice.
17
For he crushes me with a tempest,
and multiplies my wounds without cause;
18
he will not let me get my breath,
but fills me with bitterness.
19
If it is a contest of strength, he is the strong one!
If it is a matter of justice, who can summon him? 3
20
Though I am innocent, my own mouth would condemn me;
though I am blameless, he would prove me perverse.
21
I am blameless; I do not know myself;
I loathe my life.
22
It is all one; therefore I say,
he destroys both the blameless and the wicked.
23
When disaster brings sudden death,
he mocks at the calamity 4 of the innocent.
24
The earth is given into the hand of the wicked;
he covers the eyes of its judges--
if it is not he, who then is it?
25
"My days are swifter than a runner;
they flee away, they see no good.
26
They go by like skiffs of reed,
like an eagle swooping on the prey.
27
If I say, "I will forget my complaint;
I will put off my sad countenance and be of good cheer,'
28
I become afraid of all my suffering,
for I know you will not hold me innocent.
29
I shall be condemned;
why then do I labor in vain?
30
If I wash myself with soap
and cleanse my hands with lye,
31
yet you will plunge me into filth,
and my own clothes will abhor me.
32
For he is not a mortal, as I am, that I might answer him,
that we should come to trial together.
33
There is no umpire 5 between us,
who might lay his hand on us both.
34
If he would take his rod away from me,
and not let dread of him terrify me,
35
then I would speak without fear of him,
for I know I am not what I am thought to be. 6