Job

 2 “For a fact I do know that it is so.

But how can mortal man be in the right in a case with God?*+

 3 If he should find delight in contending with him,+

He cannot answer him once out of a thousand.

 4 He is wise in heart and strong in power.+

Who can show stubbornness to him and come off uninjured?+

 5 He is moving mountains away,+ so that people do not even know [of them],

He who has overthrown them in his anger.+

 6 He is making the earth go quaking from its place,

So that its very pillars+ shudder.

 7 He is saying to the sun* that it should not shine forth,

And around stars he puts a seal,+

 8 Stretching out the heavens by himself+

And treading upon the high waves* of the sea;+

 9 Making the Ash constellation,* the Keʹsil constellation,*

And the Kiʹmah constellation*+ and the interior rooms of the South;*

10 Doing great things unsearchable,+

And wonderful things without number.+

11 Look! He passes by me and I do not see [him],

And he moves on and I do not discern him.+

12 Look! He snatches away. Who can resist him?

Who will say to him, ‘What are you doing?’+

13 God* himself will not turn back his anger;+

Beneath him the helpers of a stormer*+ must bow down.

14 How much more so in case I myself answer him!

I will choose my words with him,+

15 Whom I would not answer, even though I were really in the right.+

Of my opponent-at-law I would implore favor.+

16 If I called him, would he answer me?+

I do not believe that he would give ear to my voice;

17 Who with a storm bruises me

And certainly makes my wounds many for no reason.+

18 He will not grant me my taking* of a fresh breath,+

For he keeps glutting me with bitter things.

19 If in power anyone is strong, there [he is];*+

And if in justice [anyone is strong], O that I may be summoned!

20 If I were in the right, my own mouth* would pronounce me wicked;

Were I blameless, then he would declare me crooked.

21 Were I blameless, I would not know my soul;

I would refuse my life.

22 One thing there is. That is why I do say,

‘One blameless, also a wicked one, he is bringing to their end.’+

23 If a flash flood* itself should cause death suddenly,

At the very despair of the innocent ones he would mock.

24 Earth itself has been given into the hand of the wicked one;+

The face of its judges he covers.

If not, who, then, is it?

25 Also my own days have become swifter than a runner;+

They have run away, they will certainly not see good.

26 They have moved on like reed boats,

Like an eagle that darts to and fro for something to eat.+

27 If I have said, ‘Let me forget my concern,+

Let me alter my countenance+ and brighten up,’

28 I have been scared of all my pains;+

I do know that you will not hold me innocent.

29 I myself am to become wicked.

Why is it that I toil merely in vain?+

30 If I actually washed myself in snow water,

And I actually cleansed my hands* in potash,+

31 Then in a pit you would dip me,

And my garments would certainly detest me.

32 For he is not a man+ like me [that] I should answer him,

That we should come together in judgment.

33 There exists no* person to decide* between us,+

That he should put his hand upon both of us.

34 Let him remove his rod from upon me,+

And his frightfulness, let it not terrify me.

35 Let me speak and not be afraid of him,

For I am not so disposed in myself.