I know it is so of a truth
: but how should man
be just
with God
?
If he will contend
with him, he cannot answer
him one
of a thousand
.
He is wise in heart
, and mighty
in strength
: who hath hardened
himself against him, and hath prospered
?
Which removeth the mountains
, and they know
not: which overturneth
them in his anger
.
Which shaketh the earth
out of her place
, and the pillars
thereof tremble
.
Which commandeth the sun
, and it riseth
not; and sealeth up
the stars
.
Which alone spreadeth out the heavens
, and treadeth
upon the waves
of the sea
.
Which maketh Arcturus
, Orion
, and Pleiades
, and the chambers
of the south
.
Which doeth great things
past
finding out
; yea, and wonders
without number
.
Lo, he goeth by me, and I see
him not: he passeth on
also, but I perceive
him not.
Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder
him? who will say
unto him, What doest
thou?
If God will not withdraw
his anger
, the proud
helpers
do stoop
under him.
How much less shall I answer him, and choose out
my words
to reason with him?
Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer
, but I would make supplication
to my judge
.
If I had called, and he had answered
me; yet would I not believe
that he had hearkened
unto my voice
.
For he breaketh me with a tempest
, and multiplieth
my wounds
without cause
.
He will not suffer me to take
my breath
, but filleth
me with bitterness
.
If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong
: and if of judgment
, who shall set
me a time to plead ?
If I justify myself, mine own mouth
shall condemn
me: if I say , I am perfect
, it shall also prove me perverse
.
Though I were perfect, yet would I not know
my soul
: I would despise
my life
.
This is one thing , therefore I said
it , He destroyeth
the perfect
and the wicked
.
If the scourge slay
suddenly
, he will laugh
at the trial
of the innocent
.
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?
Now my days are swifter
than a post
: they flee away
, they see
no good
.
They are passed away as
the swift
ships
: as the eagle
that hasteth
to the prey
.
If I say, I will forget
my complaint
, I will leave off
my heaviness
, and comfort
myself :
I am afraid of all my sorrows
, I know
that thou wilt not hold me innocent
.
If I be wicked, why then labour
I in vain
?
If I wash myself with
snow water
, and make my hands
never
so clean
;
Yet shalt thou plunge
me in the ditch
, and mine own clothes
shall abhor
me.
For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer
him, and we should come
together
in judgment
.
Neither is there any daysman
betwixt us, that might lay
his hand
upon us both
.
Let him take his rod
away
from me, and let not his fear
terrify
me:
Then would I speak, and not fear
him; but it is not so with me.