¶ Then Job answered and said,

I know it is so of a truth: but how¹ should man be just with² God?

If he will contend³ with him, he cannot⁴ answer him one of a thousand.

He is wise in heart⁵, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened⁶ himself against him, and hath prospered?

Which removeth⁷ the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth⁸ them in his anger.

Which shaketh⁹ the earth out of her place, and the pillars¹⁰ thereof tremble.

Which commandeth¹¹ the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth¹² up the stars.

Which¹³ alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth¹⁴ upon the waves¹⁵ of the sea.

Which maketh¹⁶ Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades¹⁷, and the chambers of the south.

¶ Which doeth great things¹⁸ past finding out; yea, and wonders¹⁹ without number.

Lo, he goeth²⁰ by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.

Behold, he taketh²¹ away, who can hinder him?²² who will say unto him, What²³ doest thou?

If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers²⁴ do stoop under him.

¶ How much²⁵ less shall I²⁶ answer him, and choose²⁷ out my words to reason with him?

Whom, though²⁸ I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would²⁹ make supplication to my judge³⁰.

If I had³¹ called, and he had answered me; yet would I³² not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.

For he³³ breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth³⁴ my wounds without cause³⁵.

He will not³⁶ suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me³⁷ with bitterness.

If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong³⁸: and if of judgment, who shall³⁹ set me a time to plead?

¶ If I justify⁴⁰ myself, mine⁴¹ own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect⁴², it shall⁴³ also prove me perverse.

Though I were perfect, yet would⁴⁴ I not know my soul: I would⁴⁵ despise my life.

¶ This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth⁴⁶ the perfect and the wicked.

If the⁴⁷ scourge slay suddenly, he will⁴⁸ laugh at the trial of the innocent.

The earth⁴⁹ is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth⁵⁰ the faces of the judges thereof; if not,⁵¹ where, and who is he?

¶ Now my days are swifter⁵² than a post⁵³: they flee away⁵⁴, they see no good.

They are passed away as the swift ships⁵⁵: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.

⁵⁶If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:

I am afraid⁵⁷ of all my sorrows, I know⁵⁸ that thou wilt not hold me innocent.

⁵⁹If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?

¶⁶⁰If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;

Yet shalt⁶¹ thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine⁶² own clothes shall abhor me⁶³.

For he is not a man⁶⁴, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should⁶⁵ come together in judgment.

Neither is there⁶⁶ any daysman⁶⁷ betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.

Let him take his rod away from me, and let not⁶⁸ his fear terrify me:

Then would⁷⁰ I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me⁷¹.