Job:9

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* Then Job answered and said : * "Truly I know it is so , But how can a man be righteous before God ? * If one wished to contend with Him , He could not answer Him one time out of a thousand . * God is wise in heart and mighty in strength . Who has hardened himself against Him and prospered ? * He removes the mountains , and they do not know When He overturns them in His anger ; * He shakes the earth out of its place , And its pillars tremble ; * He commands the sun , and it does not rise ; He seals off the stars ; * He alone spreads out the heavens , And treads on the waves of the sea ; * He made the Bear , Orion , and the Pleiades , And the chambers of the south ; * He does great things past finding out , Yes , wonders without number . * If He goes by me , I do not see Him ; If He moves past , I do not perceive Him ; * If He takes away , who can hinder Him ? Who can say to Him , "What are You doing ?' * God will not withdraw His anger , The allies of the proud lie prostrate beneath Him . * "How then can I answer Him , And choose my words to reason with Him ? * For though I were righteous , I could not answer Him ; I would beg mercy of my Judge . * If I called and He answered me , I would not believe that He was listening to my voice . * For He crushes me with a tempest , And multiplies my wounds without cause . * He will not allow me to catch my breath , But fills me with bitterness . * If it is a matter of strength , indeed He is strong ; And if of justice , who will appoint my day in court ? * Though I were righteous , my own mouth would condemn me ; Though I were blameless , it would prove me perverse . * "I am blameless , yet I do not know myself ; I despise my life . * It is all one thing ; Therefore I say , "He destroys the blameless and the wicked .' * If the scourge slays suddenly , He laughs at the plight 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 , who else could it be ? * "Now my days are swifter than a runner ; They flee away , they see no good . * They pass by like swift ships , Like an eagle swooping on its prey . * If I say , "I will forget my complaint , I will put off my sad face and wear a smile ,' * I am afraid of all my sufferings ; I know that You will not hold me innocent . * If I am condemned , Why then do I labor in vain ? * If I wash myself with snow water , And cleanse my hands with soap , * Yet You will plunge me into the pit , And my own clothes will abhor me . * "For He is not a man , as I am , That I may answer Him , And that we should go to court together . * Nor is there any mediator between us , Who may lay his hand on us both . * Let Him take His rod away from me , And do not let dread of Him terrify me . * Then I would speak and not fear Him , But it is not so with me .

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