Job: No Arbiter Between God and Man

1And Job answereth and saith: --

2Truly I have known that it is so, And what -- is man righteous with God?

3If he delight to strive with Him -- He doth not answer him one of a thousand.

4Wise in heart and strong in power -- Who hath hardened toward Him and is at peace?

5Who is removing mountains, And they have not known, Who hath overturned them in His anger.

6Who is shaking earth from its place, And its pillars move themselves.

7Who is speaking to the sun, and it riseth not, And the stars He sealeth up.

8Stretching out the heavens by Himself, And treading on the heights of the sea,

9Making Osh, Kesil, and Kimah, And the inner chambers of the south.

10Doing great things till there is no searching, And wonderful, till there is no numbering.

11Lo, He goeth over by me, and I see not, And He passeth on, and I attend not to it.

12Lo, He snatches away, who bringeth it back? Who saith unto Him, 'What dost Thou?'

13God doth not turn back His anger, Under Him bowed have proud helpers.

14How much less do I -- I answer Him? Choose out my words with Him?

15Whom, though I were righteous, I answer not, For my judgment I make supplication.

16Though I had called and He answereth me, I do not believe that He giveth ear to my voice.

17Because with a tempest He bruiseth me, And hath multiplied my wounds for nought.

18He permitteth me not to refresh my spirit, But filleth me with bitter things.

19If of power, lo, the Strong One; And if of judgment -- who doth convene me?

20If I be righteous, Mine mouth doth declare me wicked, Perfect I am! -- it declareth me perverse.

21Perfect I am! -- I know not my soul, I despise my life.

22It is the same thing, therefore I said, 'The perfect and the wicked He is consuming.'

23If a scourge doth put to death suddenly, At the trial of the innocent He laugheth.

24Earth hath been given Into the hand of the wicked one. The face of its judges he covereth, If not -- where, who is he?

25My days have been swifter than a runner, They have fled, they have not seen good,

26They have passed on with ships of reed, As an eagle darteth on food.

27Though I say, 'I forget my talking, I forsake my corner, and I brighten up!'

28I have been afraid of all my griefs, I have known that Thou dost not acquit me.

29I -- I am become wicked; why is this? In vain I labour.

30If I have washed myself with snow-water, And purified with soap my hands,

31Then in corruption Thou dost dip me, And my garments have abominated me.

32But if a man like myself -- I answer him, We come together into judgment.

33If there were between us an umpire, He doth place his hand on us both.

34He doth turn aside from off me his rod, And His terror doth not make me afraid,

35I speak, and do not fear Him, But I am not right with myself.