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1 THEN Job answered and said, | |
2 I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God? | |
3 If 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? | |
5 Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger. | |
6 Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble. | |
7 Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars. | |
8 Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea. | |
9 Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south. | |
10 Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number. | |
11 Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not. | |
12 Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou? | |
13 If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him. | |
14 How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him? | |
15 Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge. | |
16 If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice. | |
17 For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause. | |
18 He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness. | |
19 If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead? | |
20 If 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. | |
22 This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked. | |
23 If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent. | |
24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof, if not, where, and who is he? | |
25 Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good. | |
26 They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey. | |
27 If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself: | |
28 I 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? | |
30 If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean; | |
31 Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me. | |
32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment. | |
33 Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both. | |
34 Let 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. | |