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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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- Then Job replied:
- "Indeed, I know that this is true. But how can a mortal be righteous before God?
- Though one wished to dispute with him, he could not answer him one time out of a thousand.
- His wisdom is profound, his power is vast. Who has resisted him and come out unscathed?
- He moves mountains without their knowing it and overturns them in his anger.
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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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- He shakes the earth from its place and makes its pillars tremble.
- He speaks to the sun and it does not shine; he seals off the light of the stars.
- He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea.
- He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.
- He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.
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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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- When he passes me, I cannot see him; when he goes by, I cannot perceive him.
- If he snatches away, who can stop him? Who can say to him, 'What are you doing?'
- God does not restrain his anger; even the cohorts of Rahab cowered at his feet.
- "How then can I dispute with him? How can I find words to argue with him?
- Though I were innocent, I could not answer him; I could only plead with my Judge for mercy.
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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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- Even if I summoned him and he responded, I do not believe he would give me a hearing.
- He would crush me with a storm and multiply my wounds for no reason.
- He would not let me regain my breath but would overwhelm me with misery.
- If it is a matter of strength, he is mighty! And if it is a matter of justice, who will summon him ?
- Even if I were innocent, my mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, it would pronounce me guilty.
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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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- "Although I am blameless, I have no concern for myself; I despise my own life.
- It is all the same; that is why I say, 'He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.'
- When a scourge brings sudden death, he mocks the despair of the innocent.
- When a land falls into the hands of the wicked, he blindfolds its judges. If it is not he, then who is it?
- "My days are swifter than a runner; they fly away without a glimpse of joy.
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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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- They skim past like boats of papyrus, like eagles swooping down on their prey.
- If I say, 'I will forget my complaint, I will change my expression, and smile,'
- I still dread all my sufferings, for I know you will not hold me innocent.
- Since I am already found guilty, why should I struggle in vain?
- Even if I washed myself with soap and my hands with washing soda,
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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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- you would plunge me into a slime pit so that even my clothes would detest me.
- "He is not a man like me that I might answer him, that we might confront each other in court.
- If only there were someone to arbitrate between us, to lay his hand upon us both,
- someone to remove God's rod from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more.
- Then I would speak up without fear of him, but as it now stands with me, I cannot.
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