How can a man be right in front of God?
Then Job answered: "I know that's true. But how can a man be just before God? If he wanted to contend with God, he couldn't answer him once in a thousand times. God is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who has hardened himself against him and come out all right? He removes mountains, and they do not know it, 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, and he seals up the stars. He alone spreads out the heavens and treads upon the waves of the sea. He makes Arcturus, Orion and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south. He does great things beyond finding out, and wonders beyond counting. He passes by me and I don't see him; he moves past and I don't perceive him. If he takes something away, who can stop him? Who can say to him, 'What are you doing?' If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers stoop beneath him. How much less could I answer him and choose out my words to reason with him? Even if I were righteous, I could not answer him; I would plead with my judge. If I had called and he had answered me, I still would not believe he had listened to my voice. He breaks me with a tempest and multiplies my wounds without cause. He will not allow me to take my breath, but fills me with bitterness. If it's a question of strength, he is mighty. If it's judgment, who can set a time for me to plead? Even if I were righteous, my own mouth would condemn me. Even if I were blameless, it would prove me perverse. Even if I were blameless, I wouldn't know my own soul. I despise my life. It comes to the same thing. That's why I say he destroys both the blameless and the wicked. If the whip kills suddenly, he will laugh at the trial 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? My days are faster than a runner. They race away without seeing good. They pass like swift ships, like an eagle swooping on its prey. If I say, 'I will forget my complaint, leave off my heaviness and comfort myself,' I am afraid of all my sorrows. I know you will not hold me innocent. If I am counted wicked, why should I labour in vain? If I washed myself with snow water and made my hands ever so clean, you would still plunge me into the ditch, and even my own clothes would hate me. He isn't a man like me, that I could answer him and we could meet together in judgment. There is no daysman between us, no one who can lay a hand on us both. Let him take his rod away from me, and let his fear stop terrifying me. Then I could speak without being afraid of him — but as things stand, I cannot."
Then Job answered: I know it's true. But how can a man be right in front of God? If he wants to argue with him, he can't answer him one in a thousand. He's wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who's hardened himself against him and got away with it? He shifts the mountains and they don't know it, when he overturns them in his anger. He shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars shake. He orders the sun and it doesn't rise, and he seals up the stars. He spreads out the heavens on his own and walks on the waves of the sea. He makes the Bear, Orion and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south. He does great things past finding out, and wonders past counting. Look — he goes past me and I don't see him. He goes on too, and I don't take him in. Look — he takes away, and who can stop him? Who'll say to him: What are you doing? God won't pull back his anger. The helpers of the proud bow down under him. So how much less can I answer him, and pick out my words to argue with him? Though I were righteous, I couldn't answer. I'd plead with my judge. If I'd called and he'd answered me, I wouldn't believe he'd listened to my voice. Because he breaks me with a storm and makes my wounds many for nothing. He won't let me get my breath, but fills me with bitterness. If I speak of strength — look, he's strong. And if of judgment — who'll set me a time? If I made myself right, my own mouth would condemn me. If I said I was whole, it'd prove me twisted. Though I were whole, I wouldn't know my own soul. I'd sneer at my life. It's all one thing. That's why I say he finishes off both the whole and the wicked. If the whip kills suddenly, he'll laugh at the trial of the innocent. The earth is handed over into the hand of the wicked. He covers the faces of its judges. If it isn't him, then who is it? Now my days are faster than a runner. They run off and see no good. They've gone past like fast ships, like the eagle that swoops on the prey. If I say, I'll forget my complaint, I'll leave off my sad look and cheer up — I'm frightened of all my sorrows. I know you won't hold me innocent. If I'm counted wicked, why then do I work for nothing? If I wash myself with snow water and make my hands ever so clean, you'd still plunge me into the ditch, and my own clothes would loathe me. Because he isn't a man like me, that I could answer him and we'd come together in judgment. There isn't any umpire between us, who could lay his hand on us both. Let him take his rod off me, and don't let his terror frighten me. Then I'd speak and not be frightened of him. But it isn't like that with me.
Then Job answered and said, I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God? If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand. He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered? Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger. Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble. Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars. Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea. Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south. Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number. Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not. Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou? If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him. How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him? Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge. If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice. For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause. He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness. If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead? If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse. Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life. This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked. If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent. 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? Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good. They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey. If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself: I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent. If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain? If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean; Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me. For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment. Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both. Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me: Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.
Then Job answered:
Then Job answered and said,
"I know that's true. But how can a man be just before God?
I know it's true. But how can a man be right in front of God?
I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?
If he wanted to contend with God, he couldn't answer him once in a thousand times.
If he wants to argue with him, he can't answer him one in a thousand.
If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.
God is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who has hardened himself against him and come out all right?
He's wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who's hardened himself against him and got away with it?
He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?
He removes mountains, and they do not know it, when he overturns them in his anger.
He shifts the mountains and they don't know it, when he overturns them in his anger.
Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.
He shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble.
He shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars shake.
Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.
He commands the sun and it does not rise, and he seals up the stars.
He orders the sun and it doesn't rise, and he seals up the stars.
Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.
He alone spreads out the heavens and treads upon the waves of the sea.
He spreads out the heavens on his own and walks on the waves of the sea.
Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.
He makes Arcturus, Orion and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.
He makes the Bear, Orion and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.
Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.
He does great things beyond finding out, and wonders beyond counting.
He does great things past finding out, and wonders past counting.
Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.
He passes by me and I don't see him; he moves past and I don't perceive him.
Look — he goes past me and I don't see him. He goes on too, and I don't take him in.
Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.
If he takes something away, who can stop him? Who can say to him, 'What are you doing?'
Look — he takes away, and who can stop him? Who'll say to him: What are you doing?
Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?
If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers stoop beneath him.
God won't pull back his anger. The helpers of the proud bow down under him.
If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.
How much less could I answer him and choose out my words to reason with him?
So how much less can I answer him, and pick out my words to argue with him?
How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?
Even if I were righteous, I could not answer him; I would plead with my judge.
Though I were righteous, I couldn't answer. I'd plead with my judge.
Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.
If I had called and he had answered me, I still would not believe he had listened to my voice.
If I'd called and he'd answered me, I wouldn't believe he'd listened to my voice.
If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.
He breaks me with a tempest and multiplies my wounds without cause.
Because he breaks me with a storm and makes my wounds many for nothing.
For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.
He will not allow me to take my breath, but fills me with bitterness.
He won't let me get my breath, but fills me with bitterness.
He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.
If it's a question of strength, he is mighty. If it's judgment, who can set a time for me to plead?
If I speak of strength — look, he's strong. And if of judgment — who'll set me a time?
If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?
Even if I were righteous, my own mouth would condemn me. Even if I were blameless, it would prove me perverse.
If I made myself right, my own mouth would condemn me. If I said I was whole, it'd prove me twisted.
If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.
Even if I were blameless, I wouldn't know my own soul. I despise my life.
Though I were whole, I wouldn't know my own soul. I'd sneer at my life.
Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
It comes to the same thing. That's why I say he destroys both the blameless and the wicked.
It's all one thing. That's why I say he finishes off both the whole and the wicked.
This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
If the whip kills suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.
If the whip kills suddenly, he'll laugh at the trial of the innocent.
If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial 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?
The earth is handed over into the hand of the wicked. He covers the faces of its judges. If it isn't him, then who is it?
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?
My days are faster than a runner. They race away without seeing good.
Now my days are faster than a runner. They run off and see no good.
Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.
They pass like swift ships, like an eagle swooping on its prey.
They've gone past like fast ships, like the eagle that swoops on the prey.
They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.
If I say, 'I will forget my complaint, leave off my heaviness and comfort myself,'
If I say, I'll forget my complaint, I'll leave off my sad look and cheer up —
If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:
I am afraid of all my sorrows. I know you will not hold me innocent.
I'm frightened of all my sorrows. I know you won't hold me innocent.
I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
If I am counted wicked, why should I labour in vain?
If I'm counted wicked, why then do I work for nothing?
If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?
If I washed myself with snow water and made my hands ever so clean,
If I wash myself with snow water and make my hands ever so clean,
If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;
you would still plunge me into the ditch, and even my own clothes would hate me.
you'd still plunge me into the ditch, and my own clothes would loathe me.
Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.
He isn't a man like me, that I could answer him and we could meet together in judgment.
Because he isn't a man like me, that I could answer him and we'd come together in judgment.
For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.
There is no daysman between us, no one who can lay a hand on us both.
There isn't any umpire between us, who could lay his hand on us both.
Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.
Let him take his rod away from me, and let his fear stop terrifying me.
Let him take his rod off me, and don't let his terror frighten me.
Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:
Then I could speak without being afraid of him — but as things stand, I cannot."
Then I'd speak and not be frightened of him. But it isn't like that with me.
Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.