| 1 ¶ Then Job answered and said,
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| 2 I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God1?
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| 3 If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.
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| 4 He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?
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| 5 Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.
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| 6 Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.
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| 7 Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.
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| 8 Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves2 of the sea.
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| 9 Which maketh Arcturus,3 Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.
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| 10 Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.
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| 11 Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.
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| 12 Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder4 him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?
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| 13 If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud5 helpers do stoop under him.
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| 14 ¶ How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?
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| 15 Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.
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| 16 If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.
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| 17 For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.
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| 18 He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.
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| 19 If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?
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| 20 If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.
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| 21 Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
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| 22 ¶ This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
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| 23 If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.
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| 24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?
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| 25 ¶ Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.
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| 26 They are passed away as the swift6 ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.
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| 27 If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:
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| 28 I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
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| 29 If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?
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| 30 If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;
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| 31 Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor7 me.
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| 32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.
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| 33 Neither is there any8 daysman9 betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.
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| 34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:
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| 35 Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is10 not so with me.
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