Job
9 Then responded Job and said—
2 Of a truth I know that so it is, But how can a mortal be just with God?
3 If he choose to contend with him He cannot answer him one of a thousand:
4 Wise in heart and alert in vigour What man hath hardened himself against him and prospered!
5 Who removeth mountains unawares, Who overturneth them in his anger;
6 Who shaketh the earth out of its place, And the pillars thereof shudder;
7 Who commandeth the sun and it breaketh not forth, And about the stars he putteth a seal;
8 Who spreadeth out the heavens by himself alone! And marcheth along on the heights of the sea;
9 Who made the Bear, the Giant and the Cluster, And the chambers of the south;
10 Who doeth great things past finding out, And marvels beyond number.
11 Lo! he cometh upon me, yet can I not see him, Yea he passeth on, yet can I not discern him.
12 Lo! he snatcheth away, who can bring it back? Who shall say unto him, What wouldst thou do?
13 As for God if he withdraw not his anger Under him will have submitted themselves—the proud helpers.
14 How much less that I should answer him, Should choose my words with him?
15 Whom though I were righteous yet would I not answer, To be absolved I would make supplication.
16 Though I had called and he had answered me I could not believe that he would lend an ear to my voice.
17 For with a tempest would he fall upon me, And would multiply my wounds without need;
18 He would not suffer me to recover my breath, For he would surfeit me with bitter things.
19 If it regardeth vigour bold is he! If justice who could summon him?
20 If I should justify myself mine own mouth would condemn me,—I blameless? then had it shewn me perverse.
21 I blameless? I should not know my own soul, I should despise my own life!
22 One thing there is, for which cause I have said it, The blameless and the lawless he bringeth to an end.
23 If a scourge slay suddenly At the despair of innocent ones he mocketh.
24 The earth hath been given into the hand of a lawless one, The faces of her judges he covereth, If not then who is it?
25 My days therefore are swifter than a runner, They have fled, they have seen no good.
26 They have passed away with boats of paper-reed, Like a vulture [which] rusheth upon food.
27 If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will lay aside my sad countenance and brighten up
28 I am afraid of all my pains, I know that thou wilt not pronounce me innocent.
29 I shall be held guilty,—Wherefore then in vain should I toil?
30 Though I bathe myself in snow water, And cleanse in cleanness itself my hands
31 Then in a ditch wouldst thou plunge me, And mine own clothes should abhor me:
32 For he is not a man like myself whom I might answer, Nor could we come together into judgment:
33 There is not between us a mediator, Who might lay his hand upon us both.
34 Let him take from off me his rod, And his terror let it not startle me:
35 I could speak and not be afraid of him, Although not so am I in myself!