Thomson(i)
1 To this Job replied,
2 Of a truth I know that it is so. For how can a mortal be righteous with the Lord?
3 For were it his pleasure to come to trial with him; he could not join issue to answer one charge of his in a thousand.
4 For he is wise in heart and strong and great. Who is hardy enough to stand up against him
5 who maketh mountains old insensibly; who overturneth them in his anger;
6 who shaketh the earth to its foundations, so that the pillars thereof totter;
7 who commandeth the sun and it riseth not; and who sealeth up against the stars;
8 who alone hath outspread the heaven; and who walketh on the sea as on a pavement;
9 who is the maker of the Pleiads and Hesperus,
10 and of Arcturus and the chambers of Notus; who doth things great and unsearchable; things glorious and wonderful not to be numbered?
11 When he passed over me I did not see him. When he passed by me, I did not know how.
12 If he dismiss who shall bring back? Or who shall say to him, What hast thou done?
13 For he himself slighted anger; by him the monsters under heaven were bowed down.
14 But if he will come to a trial with me, or will take cognisance of my affairs;
15 [for if I be righteous will he not hearken to me; shall I not supplicate his decision?
16 And if I call and he will not answer, I do not believe that he hath hearkened to my voice?]
17 Let him not break me with a tempest. But he hath multiplied my wounds without cause.
18 For he suffereth me not to take breath, and hath filled me with bitterness.
19 For because he is strong, he prevaileth. Who then can withstand his decrees?
20 For if I am righteous shall my mouth be wicked?
21 And if I am blameless, shall I go away crouching? For if I have acted wickedly, I am not conscious to myself: Nevertheless my life is taken away.
22 Say then, wrath destroyeth the great and powerful:
23 that the wicked fall by an untimely death. But the righteous are laughed to scorn:
24 for they have been delivered into the hands of the wicked. He covereth the faces of the judges of that wrath. If it is not he, who is it?
25 Now my days are swifter than a courier. They are gone without being perceived.
26 Is there any track left by ships in their passage? Or of an eagle flying in pursuit of its prey?
27 Now if I say, Let me forget speaking, let me bow down my face and groan:
28 I shudder in all my limbs; for I know that thou wilt not let me alone though innocent.
29 Now since I am wicked, why have I not died?
30 For though I have washed myself with snow, and purified myself with clean hands:
31 thou hast so thoroughly plunged me in filth that my very robes abhor me.
32 For thou art not a man as I am, with whom I can contend; that we may come together to a trial.
33 O that there were a mediator betwixt us; one to determine between and hear us both.
34 Let him remove his rod from me; and let not the dread of him terrify me;
35 Let me not be terrified, but speak, [for in that case I am not master of myself]