[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.”