1
Iob aunswered, and sayde,
2
I knowe it is so of a trueth: For how may a man [compared] vnto God be iustified?
3
If he wil argue with hym, he can not aunswere hym one thing of a thousande.
4
He is wyse in heart and mightie in strength: who hath ben fearce against hym, and hath prospered?
5
He translateth the mountaynes, or euer they be aware it is he that ouerthroweth them in his wrath.
6
He remoueth the earth out of her place, that the pillers therof shake withall.
7
He commaundeth the sunne, and it ryseth not: he closeth vp the starres as vnder a signet.
8
He hym selfe alone spreadeth out the heauens, and goeth vpon the waues of the sea.
9
He maketh the Waynes of heauen, the Orion, the seuen starres, and the secret places of the south.
10
He doth great thinges & vnsearcheable, yea and wonders without number.
11
Lo, when he goeth by me, I shal not see hym, and when he passeth, I shall not perceaue hym.
12
If he be hastie to take away, who wil make him restore it?
or who will say vnto hym, what doest thou?
13
God will not withdraw his anger, and the most mightie helpes do stowpe vnder hym:
14
Howe much lesse shall I aunswere him?
or howe shoulde I finde out my wordes with him?
15
For though I were righteous, yet might I not geue him one word againe, but mekely submit my selfe to hym as my iudge.
16
If I had called vpon hym, and he had aunswered me, yet woulde I not beleue that he hearde my voyce:
17
He troubleth me so with the tempest, and woundeth me out of measure without a cause,
18
He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitternesse.
19
If [men will speake] of strength, lo he is strong: if [men will speake] of iudgement, who shall bring me in to pleade?
20
If I will iustifie my selfe, myne owne mouth shall condempne me: if I will [put foorth my selfe for] a perfect man, he shall proue me a wicked doer.
21
For though I be an innocent and my conscience cleare, yet am I weery of my lyfe.
22
This is one poynt, and therefore I sayd, He destroyeth both the perfect and vngodly.
23
And though he slay sodaynly with the scourge, yet will he laugh at the punishment of the innocent.
24
As for the worlde it is geuen ouer into the hande of the wicked, and he shall couer the faces of the iudges therof: if not, where is he, or who is he [that can shewe the contrarie?]
25
My dayes are more swyft then a runner, they are gone & haue seene no good thing.
26
They are passed away as the shippes that be good vnder sayle, & as the eagle that fleeth to the pray.
27
If I say, I will forget my complayning, I will ceasse from my wrath, and comfort my selfe:
28
Then am I afrayde of all my sorowes, for I knowe that thou wilt not iudge me innocent.
29
If I be wicked, why then labour I in vayne?
30
If I washe my selfe with snowe water, and make myne handes neuer so cleane at the well:
31
Yet shalt thou dippe me in the myre, and mine owne clothes shal defile me.
32
For he that I must geue aunswere vnto, and with whom I go to the lawe, is not a man as I am:
33
Neither is there any dayesman to lay his hande betweene vs.
34
Let hym take his rodde away from me, yea let hym make me no more afrayde of him,
35
And then shall I aunswere hym without any feare: but because I am not so, I holde me still.