Then Job 1answered
,
"In truth I know
that this is so
; But how
can a aman
be in the right
1before
God
?
"If one wished
to adispute
with Him, He could not answer
Him once
in a thousand
times.
" aWise in heart
and bmighty
in strength
, Who
has 1 cdefied
Him 2without
harm
?
" aIt is God who removes the mountains
, they know
not how, When
He overturns
them in His anger
;
Who ashakes the earth
out of its place
, And its bpillars
tremble
;
Who commands the asun
1not to shine
, And sets
a seal
upon the stars
;
Who alone astretches
out the heavens
And 1 btramples
down
the waves
of the sea
;
Who makes the aBear
, Orion
and the Pleiades
, And the bchambers
of the south
;
Who adoes great
things
, 1unfathomable
, And wondrous
works
without
number
.
"Were He to pass by me, aI would not see
Him; Were He to move
past
me, I would not perceive
Him.
"Were He to snatch away
, who
could arestrain
Him? Who
could say
to Him, ` bWhat
are You doing
?'
"God will not turn
back
His anger
; Beneath
Him crouch
the helpers
of aRahab
.
"How then
can aI 1answer
Him, And choose
my words
2before
Him?
"For athough I were right
, I could not 1answer
; I would have to bimplore
the mercy
of my judge
.
"If I called
and He answered
me, I could not believe
that He was listening
to my voice
.
"For He abruises me with a tempest
And multiplies
my wounds
without
cause
.
"He will anot allow me to get
my breath
, But saturates
me with bbitterness
.
"If it is a matter of power
, abehold
, He is the strong
one
! And if
it is a matter of justice
, who
can summon
1Him?
" aThough I am righteous
, my mouth
will bcondemn
me; Though I am guiltless
, He will declare
me guilty
.
"I am aguiltless; I do not take
notice
of myself
; I bdespise
my life
.
"It is all one; therefore
I say
, `He adestroys
the guiltless
and the wicked
.'
"If the scourge
kills
suddenly
, He amocks
the despair
of the innocent
.
"The earth ais given
into the hand
of the wicked
; He bcovers
the faces
of its judges
. If
it is not He, then
who
is it?
"Now amy days are swifter
than
a runner
; They flee
away
, bthey see
no
good
.
"They slip by like
areed
boats
, Like an beagle
that swoops
on 1its prey
.
"Though I say
, `I will forget
amy complaint
, I will leave
off my sad countenance
and be cheerful
,'
I am aafraid of all
my pains
, I know
that bYou will not acquit
me.
"I am accounted awicked, Why
then
should I toil
in vain
?
"If I should awash
myself with snow
And cleanse
bmy hands
with lye
,
Yet You would plunge
me into the pit
, And my own clothes
would abhor
me.
"For aHe is not a man as I am that bI may answer
Him, That we may go
to 1court
together
.
"There is no
aumpire
between
us, Who may lay
his hand
upon us both
.
"Let Him aremove His rod
from me, And let not dread
of Him terrify
me.
"Then I awould speak and not fear
Him; But I am not like
that in myself.