1 Then Job answered and said,

Then Job answered and said,

2 I know this is true: but how can a man be righteous before God?

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

3 If one wishes to contend with Him, he cannot answer Him one in a thousand.

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 has hardened himself against Him and succeeded?

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

5 He removes the mountains, and they know it not: He overturns them in His anger.

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

6 He shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble.

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

7 He commands the sun, and it does not rise; He seals up the stars.

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

8 He alone spreads out the heavens, and treads upon the waves of the sea.

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

9 He makes Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.

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

10 He does great things beyond finding out; yes, and wonders without number.

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

11 Lo, He passes by me, and I see Him not: He goes by also, but I do not perceive Him.

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

12 Behold, He takes away, who can hinder Him? Who will say to Him, What are you doing?

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

13 If God does not withdraw His anger, the proud helpers stoop under Him.

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

14 How much less shall I answer Him, and choose my words to argue with Him?

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 plead with my Judge.

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 listened to my voice.

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

17 For He crushes me with a storm, and multiplies my wounds without cause.

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

18 He will not allow me to regain my breath, but fills me with bitterness.

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

19 If I speak of strength, lo, He is mighty: and if of judgment, who shall set a time for me to plead?

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, my own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.

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 I would not know my soul: I would despise my life.

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

22 This is one thing, therefore I have said it, He destroys the perfect and the wicked.

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

23 If the scourge slays suddenly, He will laugh at the trial of the innocent.

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 covers the faces of its judges; if it is not He, then who is it?

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 runner: they flee away, they see no good.

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

26 They pass away like swift ships: like the eagle hastening to the prey.

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 console myself:

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 You will not hold me innocent.

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

29 If I am wicked, why then do I labor in vain?

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

30 If I wash myself with snow water, and cleanse my hands thoroughly;

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

31 Yet You will plunge me into the pit, and my own clothes will abhor me.

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.

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

33 Nor is there any mediator between us, that might lay his hand upon us both.

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:

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

35 Then I would speak and not fear Him; but it is not so with me.

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