Job: No Arbiter Between God and Man

1Then Job answered and said,

2Of a truth I know that it is so: But how can man be just with God?

3If he be pleased to contend with him, He cannot answer him one of a thousand.

4He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: Who hath hardened himself against him, and prospered?-

5Him that removeth the mountains, and they know it not, When he overturneth them in his anger;

6That shaketh the earth out of its place, And the pillars thereof tremble;

7That commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, And sealeth up the stars;

8That alone stretcheth out the heavens, And treadeth upon the waves of the sea;

9That maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the chambers of the south;

10That doeth great things past finding out, Yea, marvellous things without number.

11Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: He passeth on also, but I perceive him not.

12Behold, he seizeth the prey , who can hinder him? Who will say unto him, What doest thou?

13God will not withdraw his anger; The helpers of Rahab do stoop under him.

14How much less shall I answer him, And choose out my words to reason with him?

15Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer; I would make supplication to my judge.

16If I had called, and he had answered me, Yet would I not believe that he hearkened unto my voice.

17For he breaketh me with a tempest, And multiplieth my wounds without cause.

18He will not suffer me to take my breath, But filleth me with bitterness.

19If we speak of strength, lo, he is mighty! And if of justice, Who,'saith he , will summon me?

20Though I be righteous, mine own mouth shall condemn me: Though I be perfect, it shall prove me perverse.

21I am perfect; I regard not myself; I despise my life.

22It is all one; therefore I say, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

23If the scourge slay suddenly, He will mock at the trial of the innocent.

24The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He covereth the faces of the judges thereof: If it be not he , who then is it?

25Now my days are swifter than a post: They flee away, they see no good,

26They are passed away as the swift ships; As the eagle that swoopeth on the prey.

27If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will put off my'sad countenance, and be of good cheer;

28I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.

29I shall be condemned; Why then do I labor in vain?

30If I wash myself with snow water, And make my hands never so clean;

31Yet wilt thou plunge me in the ditch, And mine own clothes shall abhor me.

32For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, That we should come together in judgment.

33There is no umpire betwixt us, That might lay his hand upon us both.

34Let him take his rod away from me, And let not his terror make me afraid:

35Then would I speak, and not fear him; For I am not so in myself.