1Then Job answered and said:
2“Truly I know that this is so, but how can a mortal be in the right before God?
3If one desired to contend with him, he could not answer him one time out of a thousand.
4He is wise in heart and mighty in strength — who has hardened himself against Him and remained whole?
5He who removes mountains, and they do not know it, who overturns them in his anger;
6who shakes the earth from its place, and its pillars tremble;
7who commands the sun, and it does not rise, and he seals up the stars;
8who alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the heights of the sea;
9who makes the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south;
10who does great things beyond searching out, and wonders beyond number.
11Behold, he passes by me and I do not see him; he sweeps past and I do not perceive him.
12Behold, he snatches away — who can turn him back? Who will say to him, ‘What are you doing?’
13God does not turn back his anger; beneath him the helpers of Rahab bow down.
14How much less should I answer him, choosing my words with him!
15Though I were in the right, I could not answer; I would plead for mercy to my judge.
16If I called and he answered me, I would not believe that he was listening to my voice;
17for he crushes me with a tempest and multiplies my wounds without cause.
18He does not let me catch my breath, but fills me with bitterness.
19If it is a matter of strength — behold, he is mighty! And if of justice — who can summon me?
20Though I were in the right, my own mouth would condemn me; though I were blameless, it would prove me perverse.
21I am blameless — I do not care for myself; I despise my life.
22It is all one; therefore I say, he destroys the blameless and the wicked alike.
23When a scourge brings sudden death, he mocks at the despair of the innocent.
24The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; he covers the faces of its judges. If it is not he, then who is it?
25My days are swifter than a runner; they flee away, they see no good.
26They pass by like skiffs of reed, like an eagle swooping on its prey.
27If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my sad face and be cheerful,’
28I dread all my pains, for I know you will not hold me innocent.
29I will be counted guilty — why then should I labor in vain?
30If I washed myself with snow and cleansed my palms with lye,
31then you would plunge me into the pit, and my own clothes would abhor me.
32For he is not a man like me, that I could answer him, that we could come together into judgment.
33There is no arbiter between us, who might lay his hand on us both.
34Let him remove his rod from upon me, and let not his terror dread me.
35Then I would speak and not fear him; for it is not so with me in myself.
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