The Book of Job

Then Job answered,

"In truth I know that this is so, But how can a man be in the right before God?

"If one wished to dispute with Him, He could not answer Him once in a thousand [times].

"Wise in heart and mighty in strength, Who has defied Him without harm?

"[It is God] who removes the mountains, they know not [how,] When He overturns them in His anger;

Who shakes the earth out of its place, And its pillars tremble;

Who commands the sun not to shine, And sets a seal upon the stars;

Who alone stretches out the heavens, And tramples down the waves of the sea;

Who makes the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the chambers of the south;

Who does great things, unfathomable, And wondrous works without number.

"Were He to pass by me, I would not see Him; Were He to move past [me,] I would not perceive Him.

"Were He to snatch away, who could restrain Him? Who could say to Him, 'What art Thou doing?'

"God will not turn back His anger; Beneath Him crouch the helpers of Rahab.

"How then can I answer Him, [And] choose my words before Him?

"For though I were right, I could not answer; I would have to implore the mercy of my judge.

"If I called and He answered me, I could not believe that He was listening to my voice.

"He will not allow me to get my breath, But saturates me with bitterness.

"If [it is a matter] of power, behold, [He is] the strong one! And if [it is a matter] of justice, who can summon Him?

"Though I am righteous, my mouth will condemn me; Though I am guiltless, He will declare me guilty.

"I am guiltless; I do not take notice of myself; I despise my life.

"It is [all] one; therefore I say, 'He destroys the guiltless and the wicked.'

"If the scourge kills suddenly, He mocks the despair of the innocent.

"The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He covers the faces of its judges. If [it is] not [He,] then who is it?

"Now my days are swifter than a runner; They flee away, they see no good.

"They slip by like reed boats, Like an eagle that swoops on its prey.

"Though I say, 'I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my [sad] countenance and be cheerful,'

I am afraid of all my pains, I know that Thou wilt not acquit me.

"I am accounted wicked, Why then should I toil in vain?

"If I should wash myself with snow And cleanse my hands with lye,

Yet Thou wouldst plunge me into the pit, And my own clothes would abhor me.

"For [He is] not a man as I am that I may answer Him, That we may go to court together.

"There is no umpire between us, Who may lay his hand upon us both.

"Let Him remove His rod from me, And let not dread of Him terrify me.

"[Then] I would speak and not fear Him; But I am not like that in myself.