1Then Job answered and said:
2Truly I know that it is so; but how can man be righteous with God?
3If he desires to contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.
4Wise of heart and mighty in strength—who has hardened himself against him and remained unhurt?
5Who removes mountains, and they do not know it, who overturns them in his anger;
6Who shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble;
7Who commands the sun, and it does not rise; and around the stars he sets a seal;
8Who alone stretches out the heavens, and treads upon the heights of the sea;
9Who makes the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south;
10Who does great things past finding out, and wonders without number.
11Behold, he passes by me, and I do not see him; he goes on, and I do not perceive him.
12Behold, he snatches away; who can turn him back? Who will say to him, "What are you doing?"
13God does not turn back his anger; beneath him the helpers of Rahab bow down.
14How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words with him?
15Whom, though I were righteous, I could not answer; I would make supplication to my judge.
16If I called, and he answered me, I would not believe that he listened to my voice;
17Who crushes me with a tempest, and multiplies my wounds without cause;
18He will not let me recover my spirit (ruach), but fills me with bitterness.
19If it is of strength, behold, he is mighty! And if of judgment (mishpat), who will summon me?
20If I be righteous, my own mouth would condemn me; though I be blameless, it would prove me perverse.
21I am blameless—I do not know my soul (nephesh); I despise my life (chai).
22It is all one; therefore I say, the blameless and the wicked he destroys.
23If a scourge slays suddenly, he mocks at the calamity of the innocent.
24The 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?
25Now my days are swifter than a runner; they flee away, they see no good.
26They pass away like ships of reed, like an eagle that swoops upon food.
27If I say, "I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my sad face, and be cheerful,"
28I am afraid of all my pains; I know that you will not hold me innocent.
29I shall be condemned; why then do I labor in vain?
30If I wash myself with snow water, and cleanse my hands with lye,
31Then you would plunge me in the pit, and my own clothes would abhor me.
32For he is not a man (ish) like me, that I should answer him, that we should come together in judgment (mishpat).
33There is no arbiter between us, who might lay his hand upon us both.
34Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his terror frighten me;
35Then I would speak and not fear him; for I am not so in myself.