he does great and unsearchable things, and wonderful things without number.

If he passes by me, I cannot see him, if he goes by, I cannot perceive him.

If he snatches away, who can turn him back? Who dares to say to him, 'What are you doing?'

Although I am innocent, I could not answer him; I could only plead with my judge for mercy.

God does not restrain his anger; under him the helpers of Rahab lie crushed.

he who crushes me with a tempest, and multiplies my wounds for no reason.

Although I am innocent, my mouth would condemn me; although I am blameless, it would declare me perverse.

If I summoned him, and he answered me, I would not believe that he would be listening to my voice --

"How much less, then, can I answer him and choose my words to argue with him!

If it is a matter of strength, most certainly he is the strong one! And if it is a matter of justice, he will say, 'Who will summon me?'

I am blameless. I do not know myself. I despise my life.

"My days are swifter than a runner, they speed by without seeing happiness.

He does not allow me to recover my breath, for he fills me with bitterness.

"Truly, I know that this is so. But how can a human be just before God?

Then Job answered:

he who shakes the earth out of its place so that its pillars tremble;

If a land has been given into the hand of a wicked man, he covers the faces of its judges; if it is not he, then who is it?

he who commands the sun and it does not shine and seals up the stars;

He is wise in heart and mighty in strength -- who has resisted him and remained safe?

He who removes mountains suddenly, who overturns them in his anger;

"It is all one! That is why I say, 'He destroys the blameless and the guilty.'

If a scourge brings sudden death, he mocks at the despair of the innocent.

They glide by like reed boats, like an eagle that swoops down on its prey.

If someone wishes to contend with him, he cannot answer him one time in a thousand.

If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands clean with lye,

I dread all my sufferings, for I know that you do not hold me blameless.

If I am guilty, why then weary myself in vain?

If I say, 'I will forget my complaint, I will change my expression and be cheerful,'

he alone spreads out the heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea;

Nor is there an arbiter between us, who might lay his hand on us both,

he makes the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the constellations of the southern sky;

For he is not a human being like I am, that I might answer him, that we might come together in judgment.

who would take his rod away from me so that his terror would not make me afraid.

then you plunge me into a slimy pit and my own clothes abhor me.

Then would I speak and not fear him, but it is not so with me.