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[1]Then Job answered and said,
[2]I know it to be so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?
[3]If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.
[4]He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?
[5]Who removeth the mountains, and they know not: who overturneth them in his anger.
[6]Who shaketh the earth out of her place, and its pillars tremble.
[7]Who commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.
[8]Who alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.
[9]Who maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.
[10]Who doeth great things past finding out; yes, and wonders without number.
[11]Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.
[12]Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say to him, What doest thou?
[13]If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.
[14]How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?
[15]Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.
[16]If I had called, and he had answered me; yet I would not believe that he had hearkened to my voice.
[17]For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.
[18]He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.
[19]If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?
[20]If I justify myself, my own mouth will condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, that also will prove me perverse.
[21]Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
[22]This is one thing, therefore I said it, he destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
[23]If the scourge shall slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.
[24]The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of its judges; if not, where, and who is he?
[25]Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.
[26]They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.
[27]If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:
[28]I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
[29]If I am wicked, why then do I labor in vain?
[30]If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;
[31]Yet wilt thou plunge me in the ditch, and my own clothes shall abhor me.
[32]For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.
[33]Neither is there any judge between us, that might lay his hand upon us both.
[34]Let him take away his rod from me, and let not his fear terrify me:
[35]Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.
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