-
1 Then Job answered and said,
-
2 I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?
-
3 If 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?
-
5 Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.
-
6 Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.
-
7 Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.
-
8 Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.
-
9 Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.
-
10 Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.
-
11 Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.
-
12 Behold, 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.
-
14 How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?
-
15 Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.
-
16 If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.
-
17 For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.
-
18 He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.
-
19 If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?
-
20 If 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.
-
22 This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
-
23 If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.
-
24 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?
-
25 Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.
-
26 They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.
-
27 If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:
-
28 I 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?
-
30 If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;
-
31 Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.
-
32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.
-
33 Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.
-
34 Let 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.
|
- 1 Then Job answered,
- 2 “In truth I know that this is so; But how can a man be in the right before God?
- 3 “If one wished to dispute with Him, He could not answer Him once in a thousand times.
- 4 “Wise in heart and mighty in strength, Who has defied Him without harm?
- 5 “It is God who removes the mountains, they know not how, When He overturns them in His anger;
- 6 Who shakes the earth out of its place, And its pillars tremble;
- 7 Who commands the sun not to shine, And sets a seal upon the stars;
- 8 Who alone stretches out the heavens And tramples down the waves of the sea;
- 9 Who makes the Bear, Orion and the Pleiades, And the chambers of the south;
- 10 Who does great things, unfathomable, And wondrous works without number.
- 11 “Were He to pass by me, I would not see Him; Were He to move past me, I would not perceive Him.
- 12 “Were He to snatch away, who could restrain Him? Who could say to Him, 'What are You doing?'
- 13 “God will not turn back His anger; Beneath Him crouch the helpers of Rahab.
- 14 “How then can I answer Him, And choose my words before Him?
- 15 “For though I were right, I could not answer; I would have to implore the mercy of my judge.
- 16 “If I called and He answered me, I could not believe that He was listening to my voice.
- 17 “For He bruises me with a tempest And multiplies my wounds without cause.
- 18 “He will not allow me to get my breath, But saturates me with bitterness.
- 19 “If it is a matter of power, behold, He is the strong one! And if it is a matter of justice, who can summon Him?
- 20 “Though I am righteous, my mouth will condemn me; Though I am guiltless, He will declare me guilty.
- 21 “I am guiltless; I do not take notice of myself; I despise my life.
- 22 “It is all one; therefore I say, 'He destroys the guiltless and the wicked.'
- 23 “If the scourge kills suddenly, He mocks the despair of the innocent.
- 24 “The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He covers the faces of its judges. If it is not He, then who is it?
- 25 “Now my days are swifter than a runner; They flee away, they see no good.
- 26 “They slip by like reed boats, Like an eagle that swoops on its prey.
- 27 “Though I say, 'I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my sad countenance and be cheerful,'
- 28 I am afraid of all my pains, I know that You will not acquit me.
- 29 “I am accounted wicked, Why then should I toil in vain?
- 30 “If I should wash myself with snow And cleanse my hands with lye,
- 31 Yet You would plunge me into the pit, And my own clothes would abhor me.
- 32 “For He is not a man as I am that I may answer Him, That we may go to court together.
- 33 “There is no umpire between us, Who may lay his hand upon us both.
- 34 “Let Him remove His rod from me, And let not dread of Him terrify me.
- 35 “Then I would speak and not fear Him; But I am not like that in myself.
|