Then Job answered and said,

I do indeed know that it is so. But how can a man be righteous before God?

If he is pleased to contend with Him, He cannot answer Him one thing in a thousand.

He is wise in heart and mighty in strength-Who has ever resisted Him and come through whole? -

He who removes mountains, and they do not know it, When He overturns them in His anger;

Who shakes the earth from its place, And its pillars shake;

Who commands the sun, and it does not rise, And seals up the stars;

Who alone stretched forth the heavens And trod upon the heights of the sea;

Who made the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the chambers of the south;

Who does great things that cannot be searched, Indeed, wonderful deeds that cannot be numbered.

Indeed, He passes by me, but I do not see Him; And He goes by, but I do not perceive Him.

Indeed, He snatches away; who can stop Him? Who can say to Him, What are You doing?

God does not turn back His anger; Under Him Rahab's helpers stoop.

How then can I answer Him And choose my words properly with Him?

I, though righteous, could not answer Him; I could only plead for mercy before my Judge.

If I called out and He answered me, I do not believe that He would hearken to my voice.

For He crushes me with a whirlwind And multiplies my wounds without cause.

He does not permit me to catch my breath, But fills me with bitterness.

If we speak of strength, indeed, He is mighty! Or if of judgment, Who, says He, can appoint Me a time?

Though I am righteous, my mouth would condemn me; Though I am perfect, it would prove me perverse.

I am perfect; I do not regard my soul; I despise my life.

It is all one; therefore I say, He destroys the perfect and the wicked.

If some scourge suddenly kills, He derides the despair of the innocent.

The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He covers the faces of its judges. If not He, then who is it?

And my days are swifter than a running messenger; They flee away, they do not see good;

They go by like reed boats, Like an eagle swooping on the prey.

If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad countenance and look cheerful;

I fear all my pains: I know that You will not hold me innocent.

I will be accounted wicked; Why then do I labor in vain?

If I wash myself with soap And cleanse my hands with lye,

Yet You will plunge me into the pit, And my own garments will abhor me.

For He is not a man, as I am, that I should answer Him, That we should enter into litigation together.

There is no referee between us, Who may lay his hand upon us both.

Let Him take His rod away from me, And let not the dread of Him terrify me;

Then I would speak and not be afraid; For I am not such.