Then Job answered and said,

Then Job answered:

I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?

“Yes, I know that it is so, but how can a mortal be righteous before God?

If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.

If one wished to contend with God, he could not answer Him one time out of a thousand.

He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?

God is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who has resisted Him and prospered?

Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.

He moves mountains without their knowledge and overturns them in His anger.

Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.

He shakes the earth from its place, so that its foundations tremble.

Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.

He commands the sun not to shine; He seals off the stars.

Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.

He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea.

Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.

He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, of the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.

Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.

He does great things beyond searching out, and wonders without number.

Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.

Were He to pass by me, I would not see Him; were He to move, I would not recognize Him.

Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?

If He takes away, who can stop Him? Who dares to ask Him, ‘What are You doing?’

If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.

God does not restrain His anger; the helpers of Rahab cower beneath Him.

How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?

How then can I answer Him or choose my arguments against Him?

Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.

For even if I were right, I could not answer. I could only beg my Judge for mercy.

If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.

If I summoned Him and He answered me, I do not believe He would listen to my voice.

For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.

For He would crush me with a tempest and multiply my wounds without cause.

He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.

He does not let me catch my breath, but overwhelms 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 it is a matter of strength, He is indeed mighty! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon Him?

If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.

Even if I were righteous, my mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, it would declare me guilty.

Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.

Though I am blameless, I have no concern for myself; I despise my own life.

This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

It is all the same, and so I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’

If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.

When the scourge brings sudden death, He mocks the despair 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?

The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He blindfolds its judges. If it is not He, then who is it?

Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.

My days are swifter than a runner; they flee without seeing good.

They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.

They sweep by like boats of papyrus, like an eagle swooping down on its prey.

If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:

If I were to say, ‘I will forget my complaint and change my expression and smile,’

I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.

I would still dread all my sufferings; I know that You will not acquit me.

If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?

Since I am already found guilty, why should I labor in vain?

If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;

If I should wash myself with snow and cleanse my hands with lye,

Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.

then You would plunge me into the pit, and even my own clothes would despise me.

For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.

For He is not a man like me, that I can answer Him, that we can take each other to court.

Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.

Nor is there a mediator between us, to lay his hand upon us both.

Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:

Let Him remove His rod from me, so that His terror will no longer frighten me.

Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.

Then I would speak without fear of Him. But as it is, I am on my own.