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- Then Job answered and said,
- I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?
- If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.
- He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?
- Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.
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- Then Job answered,
- "In truth I know that this is so; But how can a man be in the right before God?
- "If one wished to dispute with Him, He could not answer Him once in a thousand times.
- "Wise in heart and mighty in strength, Who has defied Him without harm?
- "It is God who removes the mountains, they know not how, When He overturns them in His anger;
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- Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.
- Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.
- Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.
- Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.
- Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.
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- Who shakes the earth out of its place, And its pillars tremble;
- Who commands the sun not to shine, And sets a seal upon the stars;
- Who alone stretches out the heavens And tramples down the waves of the sea;
- Who makes the Bear, Orion and the Pleiades, And the chambers of the south;
- Who does great things, unfathomable, And wondrous works 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.
- Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?
- If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.
- How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?
- Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.
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- "Were He to pass by me, I would not see Him; Were He to move past me, I would not perceive Him.
- "Were He to snatch away, who could restrain Him? Who could say to Him, 'What are You doing?'
- "God will not turn back His anger; Beneath Him crouch the helpers of Rahab.
- "How then can I answer Him, And choose my words before Him?
- "For though I were right, I could not answer; I would have to implore the mercy of my judge.
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- If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.
- For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.
- He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.
- If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?
- If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.
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- "If I called and He answered me, I could not believe that He was listening to my voice.
- "For He bruises me with a tempest And multiplies my wounds without cause.
- "He will not allow me to get my breath, But saturates me with bitterness.
- "If it is a matter of power, behold, He is the strong one! And if it is a matter of justice, who can summon Him?
- "Though I am righteous, my mouth will condemn me; Though I am guiltless, He will declare me guilty.
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- Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
- This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
- If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.
- The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?
- Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.
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- "I am guiltless; I do not take notice of myself; I despise my life.
- "It is all one; therefore I say, 'He destroys the guiltless and the wicked.'
- "If the scourge kills suddenly, He mocks the despair of the innocent.
- "The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He covers the faces of its judges. If it is not He, then who is it?
- "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 eagle that hasteth to the prey.
- If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:
- I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
- If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?
- If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;
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- "They slip by like reed boats, Like an eagle that swoops on its prey.
- "Though I say, 'I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my sad countenance and be cheerful,'
- I am afraid of all my pains, I know that You will not acquit me.
- "I am accounted wicked, Why then should I toil in vain?
- "If I should wash myself with snow And cleanse my hands with lye,
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- Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.
- For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.
- Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.
- Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:
- Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.
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- Yet You would plunge me into the pit, And my own clothes would abhor me.
- "For He is not a man as I am that I may answer Him, That we may go to court together.
- "There is no umpire between us, Who may lay his hand upon us both.
- "Let Him remove His rod from me, And let not dread of Him terrify me.
- "Then I would speak and not fear Him; But I am not like that in myself.
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