Bible
- 1
- THEN JOB answered and said,
- 2
- Yes, I know it is true. But how can mortal man be right before God?
- 3
- If one should want to contend with Him, he cannot answer one [of His questions] in a thousand.
- 4
- [God] is wise in heart and mighty in strength; who has [ever] hardened himself against Him and prospered or even been safe?
- 5
- [God] Who removes the mountains, and they know it not when He overturns them in His anger;
- 6
- Who shakes the earth out of its place, and the pillars of it tremble;
- 7
- Who commands the sun, and it rises not; Who seals up the stars [from view];
- 8
- Who alone stretches out the heavens and treads upon the waves and high places of the sea;
- 9
- Who made [the constellations] the Bear, Orion, and the [loose cluster] Pleiades, and the [vast starry] spaces of the south;
- 10
- Who does great things past finding out, yes, marvelous things without number.
- 11
- Behold, He goes by me, and I see Him not; He passes on also, but I perceive Him not.
- 12
- Behold, He snatches away; who can hinder or turn Him back? Who will say to Him, What are You doing?
- 13
- God will not withdraw His anger; the [proud] helpers of Rahab [arrogant monster of the sea] bow under Him.
- 14
- How much less shall I answer Him, choosing out my words to reason with Him
- 15
- Whom, though I were righteous (upright and innocent) yet I could not answer? I must appeal for mercy to my Opponent and Judge [for my right].
- 16
- If I called and He answered me, yet would I not believe that He listened to my voice.
- 17
- For He overwhelms and breaks me with a tempest and multiplies my wounds without cause.
- 18
- He will not allow me to catch my breath, but fills me with bitterness.
- 19
- If I speak of strength, behold, He is mighty! And if of justice, Who, says He, will summon Me?
- 20
- Though I am innocent and in the right, my own mouth would condemn me; though I am blameless, He would prove me perverse.
- 21
- Though I am blameless, I regard not myself; I despise my life.
- 22
- It is all one; therefore I say, God [does not discriminate, but] destroys the blameless and the wicked.
- 23
- When [His] scourge slays suddenly, He mocks at the calamity and trial of the innocent.
- 24
- The earth is given into the hands of the wicked; He covers the faces of its judges [so that they are blinded to justice]. If it is not [God], who then is it [responsible for all this inequality]?
- 25
- Now my days are swifter than a runner; they flee away, they see no good.
- 26
- They are passed away like the swift rowboats made of reeds, or like the eagle that swoops down on the prey.
- 27
- If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad countenance, and be of good cheer and brighten up,
- 28
- I become afraid of all my pains and sorrows [yet to come], for I know You will not pronounce me innocent [by removing them].
- 29
- I shall be held guilty and be condemned; why then should I labor in vain [to appear innocent]?
- 30
- If I wash myself with snow and cleanse my hands with lye,
- 31
- Yet You will plunge me into the ditch, and my own clothes will abhor me [and refuse to cover so foul a body].
- 32
- For [God] is not a [mere] man, as I am, that I should answer Him, that we should come together in court.
- 33
- There is no umpire between us, who might lay his hand upon us both, [would that there were!] [I Tim. 2:5.]
- 34
- That He might take His rod away from [threatening] me, and that the fear of Him might not terrify me.
- 35
- [Then] would I speak and not fear Him, but I am not so in myself [to make me afraid, were only a fair trial given me].
Copyright Information:
Amplified Bible Copyright (c) 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631 All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org
