✧Then Job answered and said, ✧2I know [it is] so of a truth: but how should man be just with God? ✧3If 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? ✧5Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger. ✧6Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble. ✧7Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars. ✧8Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea. ✧9Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south. ✧10Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number. ✧11Lo, he goeth by me, and I see [him] not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not. ✧12Behold, 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. ✧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, [but] I would make supplication to my judge. ✧16If I had called, and he had answered me; [yet] would I not believe that he had 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 [I speak] of strength, lo, [he is] strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time [to plead]? ✧20If 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. ✧22This [is] one [thing], therefore I said [it], He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked. ✧23If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh 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 not, where, [and] who [is] he? ✧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] hasteth to the prey. ✧27If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort [myself:] ✧28I 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? ✧30If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean; ✧31Yet shalt 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, [and] we should come together in judgment. ✧33Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, [that] might lay his hand upon us both. ✧34Let 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.