Job: how can a mortal be in the right against God?
1Then Job answered: 2Truly, I know that this is so. But how can a mortal be in the right against God? 3If a man wanted to argue his case with him, he could not answer him once in a thousand times. 4Wise in heart and mighty in strength — who ever defied him and came out whole? 5He moves mountains and they never know it; he overturns them in his anger. 6He shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars shudder. 7He speaks to the sun and it does not rise; he seals up the stars. 8He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the high places of the Sea. 9He makes the Bear, Orion and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south. 10He does great things beyond fathoming, wonders beyond number. 11He passes by me and I do not see him; he moves on, and I do not notice him. 12If he snatches away, who can turn him back? Who will say to him, “What are you doing?”
He destroys the blameless and the wicked alike
13Eloah does not call back his anger; under him the helpers of Rahab lay flat. 14How much less can I answer him, or pick my words to argue with him? 15Even if I were in the right, I could not answer; I could only beg my judge for mercy. 16If I called and he answered me, I would not believe he was listening to my voice. 17For he crushes me with a storm and multiplies my wounds for nothing. 18He will not let me get my breath back; he fills me up with bitterness. 19If it is a matter of strength — he is the strong one! If of justice — who will summon him for me? 20Even if I were in the right, my own mouth would condemn me; blameless — and I would be proved crooked. 21I am blameless. I do not know myself. I despise my life. 22It is all one; that is why I say it: he destroys the blameless and the wicked alike. 23When a scourge kills without warning, he laughs at the despair of the innocent. 24The earth is handed over to the wicked; he covers the faces of its judges. If it is not he, then who?
There is no arbiter between us
25My days are swifter than a runner; they flee away, they see nothing good. 26They skim past like boats of reed, like an eagle swooping on its food. 27If I say, “I will forget my complaint, I will change my face and look cheerful,” 28I dread all my pains, for I know you will not hold me innocent. 29I am to be counted guilty — so why should I struggle in vain? 30If I washed myself in snow water and scrubbed my hands with lye, 31you would plunge me into the pit, and my own clothes would find me disgusting. 32For he is not a man like me, that I could answer him, that the two of us could go to court together. 33There is no arbiter between us to lay his hand on us both. 34Let him lift his rod off me, and let his terror stop frightening me. 35Then I would speak and not be afraid of him — but that is not how it stands with me.
