King James Bible

New American Standard Bible 1995

1Then Job answered and said,

1Then Job answered,

2I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?

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

3If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.

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

4He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?

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

5Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.

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

6Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.

6Who shakes the earth out of its place, And its pillars tremble;

7Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.

7Who commands the sun not to shine, And sets a seal upon the stars;

8Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.

8Who alone stretches out the heavens And tramples down the waves of the sea;

9Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.

9Who makes the Bear, Orion and the Pleiades, And the chambers of the south;

10Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.

10Who does great things, unfathomable, And wondrous works without number.

11Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.

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

12Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?

12"Were He to snatch away, who could restrain Him? Who could say to Him, 'What are You doing?'

13If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.

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

14How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?

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

15Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.

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

16If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.

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

17For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.

17"For He bruises me with a tempest And multiplies my wounds without cause.

18He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.

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

19If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?

19"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?

20If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.

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

21Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.

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

22This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

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

23If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.

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

24The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?

24"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?

25Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.

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

26They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.

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

27If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:

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

28I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.

28I am afraid of all my pains, I know that You will not acquit me.

29If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?

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

30If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;

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

31Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.

31Yet You would plunge me into the pit, And my own clothes would abhor me.

32For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.

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

33Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.

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

34Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:

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

35Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.

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

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org