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[1] Then Job answered and said:
[2] Of a truth I know that it is so; and how can man be just with God?
[3] If one should desire to contend with Him, he could not 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] Who removeth the mountains, and they know it not, when He overturneth them in His anger.
[6] Who shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.
[7] Who commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.
[8] Who alone stretcheth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.
[9] Who maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.
[10] Who doeth great things past finding out; yea, marvellous things 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 snatcheth away, who can hinder Him? Who will say unto Him: 'What doest Thou?'
[13] God will not withdraw His anger; the helpers of Rahab did stoop under Him.
[14] How much less shall I answer Him, and choose out my arguments with Him?
[15] Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer; I would make supplication to Him that contendeth with me.
[16] If I had called, and He had answered me; yet would I not believe that He would hearken unto my voice—
[17] He that would break me with a tempest, and multiply my wounds without cause;
[18] That would not suffer me to take my breath, but fill me with bitterness.
[19] If it be a matter of strength, lo, He is mighty! and if of justice, who will appoint me a time?
[20] Though I be righteous, mine own mouth shall condemn me; though I be innocent, He shall prove me perverse.
[21] I am innocent—I regard not myself, I despise my life.
[22] It is all one—therefore I say: He destroyeth the innocent and the wicked.
[23] If the scourge slay suddenly, He will mock at the calamity of the guiltless.
[24] The 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?
[25] Now my days are swifter than a runner; they flee away, they see no good.
[26] They are passed away as the swift ships; as the vulture that swoopeth on the prey.
[27] If I say: 'I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad countenance, and be of good cheer',
[28] I am afraid of all my pains, I know that Thou wilt not hold me guiltless.
[29] I shall be condemned; why then do I labour in vain?
[30] If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;
[31] Yet wilt 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, that we should come together in judgment.
[33] There is no arbiter betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.
[34] Let Him take His rod away from me, and let not His terror make me afraid;
[35] Then would I speak, and not fear Him; for I am not so with myself.
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