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Then Job answered and said:
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Of a truth I know that it is so;
and how can man be just with God?
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If one should desire to contend with Him, he could not answer Him one of a thousand.
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He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength;
who hath hardened himself against Him, and prospered?
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Who removeth the mountains, and they know it not, when He overturneth them in His anger.
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Who shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.
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Who commandeth the sun, and it riseth not;
and sealeth up the stars.
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Who alone stretcheth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.
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Who maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.
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Who doeth great things past finding out;
yea, marvellous things without number.
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Lo, He goeth by me, and I see Him not.
He passeth on also, but I perceive Him not.
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Behold, He snatcheth away, who can hinder Him?
Who will say unto Him: "What doest Thou?"
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God will not withdraw His anger;
the helpers of Rahab did stoop under Him.
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How much less shall I answer Him, and choose out my arguments with Him?
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Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer;
I would make supplication to Him that contendeth with me.
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If I had called, and He had answered me;
yet would I not believe that He would hearken unto my voice -
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He that would break me with a tempest, and multiply my wounds without cause;
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That would not suffer me to take my breath, but fill me with bitterness.
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If it be a matter of strength, lo, He is mighty!
and if of justice, who will appoint me a time?
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Though I be righteous, mine own mouth shall condemn me;
though I be innocent, He shall prove me perverse.
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I am innocent - I regard not myself, I despise my life.
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It is all one - therefore I say: He destroyeth the innocent and the wicked.
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If the scourge slay suddenly, He will mock at the calamity of the guiltless.
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The earth is given into the hand of the wicked;
he covereth the faces of the judges thereof;
if it be not He, who then is it?
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Now my days are swifter than a runner;
they flee away, they see no good.
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They are passed away as the swift ships;
as the vulture that swoopeth on the prey.
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If I say: "I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad countenance, and be of good cheer",
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I am afraid of all my pains, I know that Thou wilt not hold me guiltless.
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I shall be condemned;
why then do I labour in vain?
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If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;
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Yet wilt Thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.
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For He is not a man, as I am, that I should answer Him, that we should come together in judgment.
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There is no arbiter betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.
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Let Him take His rod away from me, and let not His terror make me afraid;
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Then would I speak, and not fear Him;
for I am not so with myself.