Then Jobansweredand said, I know it is soof a truth: but howshould manbe justwithGod? Ifhe willcontendwithhim, he cannotanswerhim oneofa thousand. He is wisein heart, and mightyin strength: whohath hardened himself againsthim, and hath prospered? Which removeththe mountains, and they knownot: whichoverturneththem in his anger. Which shakeththe earthout of her place, and the pillarsthereof tremble. Which commandeththe sun, and it risethnot; and sealeth upthe stars. Which alonespreadeth outthe heavens, and treadethuponthe wavesof the sea. Which makethArcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambersof the south. Which doethgreat thingspastfinding out; yea, and wonderswithoutnumber. Lo, he goethbyme, and I see him not: he passeth onalso, but I perceivehim not. Behold, he taketh away, whocan hinderhim? whowill sayuntohim, Whatdoestthou? If Godwill notwithdrawhis anger, the proudhelpersdo stoopunderhim. How much lessshall Ianswerhim, and choose outmy words to reason withhim? Whom, thoughI were righteous, yet would I notanswer, but I would make supplicationto my judge. IfI had called, and he had answeredme; yet would I notbelievethathe had hearkenedunto my voice. Forhe breakethme with a tempest, and multipliethmy woundswithout cause. He will notsufferme to takemy breath, butfillethme with bitterness. If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and ifof judgment, whoshall set me a time to plead ? IfI justifymyself, mine own mouthshall condemnme: if I say , I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse. Though I were perfect, yet would I notknowmy soul: I would despisemy life. This is one thing , thereforeI said it , Hedestroyeththe perfectand the wicked. Ifthe scourgeslaysuddenly, he will laughat the trialof the innocent. The earthis giveninto the handof the wicked: he covereththe facesof the judgesthereof; ifnot, where, and who is he? Now my daysare swifterthana post: they flee away, they seenogood. They are passed awayasthe swiftships: as the eagle that hastethtothe prey. IfI say, I will forgetmy complaint, I will leave offmy heaviness, and comfort myself : I am afraidof allmy sorrows, I knowthatthou wilt nothold me innocent. If Ibe wicked, whythenlaborI in vain? IfI wash myselfwith snowwater, and make my handsneverso clean; Yetshalt thou plungeme in the ditch, and mine own clothesshall abhorme. For he is nota man, as I am, that I should answerhim, and we should cometogetherin judgment. Neitheris thereany daysmanbetweenus, that might layhis handuponus both. Let him take his rod awayfromme, and let nothis fearterrifyme: Then would I speak, and notfearhim; but it is notsowithme.