Job
9 But Job answered
2 “Certainly, I know it is so,
and how is a human being to be in the right with Deity?
3 If he chooses to argue a case with him
he will not answer him one point out of a thousand.
4 Wise in heart and mighty in strength,
who has defied him and remained safe and sound?
5 Him who displaces mountains before they know it,
as he has overthrown them in his anger;
6 Him who shakes earth loose from its place
and its pillars quiver;
7 Him who says a thing to the sun and it does not break out,
and seals off stars;
8 Sole spreader of sky,
treader on heights of sea,
9 Maker of Aldebaran, Orion,
and the Pleiades and the chambers of the south,
10 Doer of great things inscrutable
and wonders innumerable.
11 Here he comes by me and I do not see him,
goes past and I do not perceive him—
13 God will not turn back his anger;
Rahab’s helpers sank under him,
14 Not to speak of such a thing as that I should answer him,
choose my words with him,
15 I who if I were in the right would not answer,
would beg as a favor for what was my right.
16 If I called and he answered me
I would not believe that he would give ear to my voice,
17 He who deals me hurts in a tempest
and multiplies my sores for nothing,
18 Does not let me get back my breath
but gives me all the bitter mouthfuls I can hold.
20* If I am in the right my own mouth will put me in the wrong;
I am virtuous and he has made a crook of me.
22 It is all one; therefore I say,
he makes a clean sweep of virtuous man and rogue.
23 If a scourge brings sudden death
he makes fun of innocent men’s despair.
24** A country is given into a rogue’s hands;
he covers its judges’ faces.
If not then, who is it that does?
25 And my days are swifter than a runner,
have gone off without seeing anything good,
28 I quail at all my woes,
I know I shall not be acquitted.
29 I am the one to be found guilty—
what should I take useless trouble for?
30 If I take a snow bath
and clean my hands with alkali,
31 Then he will dip me in a mudhole
and my garments will abominate me.
32 For he is not a man like me whom I should answer,
we should go into court together;
33 There is no adjudicator between us
who will lay his hands on us both.
34 Let him take his cudgel away from over me
and his terror not overwhelm me;
35 I will speak and not be afraid of him,
because I am not like that to my knowledge.