✧Then Job answered and said, ✧2Of a truth I know that it is so: But how can man be just with God? ✧3If he be pleased to 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 prospered?— ✧5[Him] that removeth the mountains, and they know it not, When he overturneth them in his anger; ✧6That shaketh the earth out of its place, And the pillars thereof tremble; ✧7That commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, And sealeth up the stars; ✧8That alone stretcheth out the heavens, And treadeth upon the waves of the sea; ✧9That maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the chambers of the south; ✧10That doeth great things past finding out, Yea, marvellous things without number. ✧11Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: He passeth on also, but I perceive him not. ✧12Behold, he seizeth [the prey], who can hinder him? Who will say unto him, What doest thou? ✧13God will not withdraw his anger; The helpers of Rahab do stoop under him. ✧14How much less shall I answer him, And choose out my words [to reason] with him? ✧15Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer; I would make supplication to my judge. ✧16If I had called, and he had answered me, Yet would I not believe that he hearkened unto my voice. ✧17For he breaketh me with a tempest, And multiplieth my wounds without cause. ✧18He will not suffer me to take my breath, But filleth me with bitterness. ✧19If [we speak] of strength, lo, [he is] mighty! And if of justice, Who, [saith he], will summon me? ✧20Though I be righteous, mine own mouth shall condemn me: Though I be perfect, it shall prove me perverse. ✧21I am perfect; I regard not myself; I despise my life. ✧22It is all one; therefore I say, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked. ✧23If the scourge slay suddenly, He will mock at the trial of the innocent. ✧24The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He covereth the faces of the judges thereof: If [it be] not [he], who then is it? ✧25Now my days are swifter than a post: They flee away, they see no good. ✧26They are passed away as the swift ships; As the eagle that swoopeth on the prey. ✧27If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will put off my [sad] countenance, and be of good cheer; ✧28I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent. ✧29I shall be condemned; Why then do I labor in vain? ✧30If I wash myself with snow water, And make my hands never so clean; ✧31Yet wilt thou plunge me in the ditch, And mine own clothes shall abhor me. ✧32For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, That we should come together in judgment. ✧33There is no umpire betwixt us, That might lay his hand upon us both. ✧34Let him take his rod away from me, And let not his terror make me afraid: ✧35Then would I speak, and not fear him; For I am not so in myself.