If I have sinned, what do I do to thee, O thou watcher of men? Why have thou set me as a mark for thee, so that I am a burden to myself?

For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and apply thyself to that which their fathers have searched out

Of a truth I know that it is so. But how can man be just with God?

If I had called, and he had answered me, yet I would not believe that he hearkened to my voice.

They are passed away as the swift ships, as the eagle that swoops on the prey.

I am afraid of all my sorrows. I know that thou will not hold me innocent.

For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, that we should come together in judgment.

Is it good to thee that thou should oppress, that thou should despise the work of thy hands, and shine upon the counsel of the wicked?

that thou inquire after my iniquity, and search after my sin,

although thou know that I am not wicked. And there is none that can deliver out of thy hand?

Remember, I beseech thee, that thou have fashioned me as clay. And will thou bring me into dust again?

Yet these things thou hid in thy heart. I know that this is with thee.

Are not my days few? Cease then, and let me alone, that I may take comfort a little

But O that God would speak, and open his lips against thee,

and that he would show thee the secrets of wisdom! For he is manifold in understanding. Know therefore that God exacts of thee less than thine iniquity deserves.

For thou shall forget thy misery. Thou shall remember it as waters that are passed away.

Who does not know in all these, that the hand of LORD has wrought this,

O that ye would altogether be silent! And it would be your wisdom.

Is it good that he should search you out? Or as deceiving a man, will ye deceive him?

Be quiet. Let me alone that I may speak, and let come on me what will.

This also shall be my salvation, that a profane man shall not come before him.

Behold now, I have set my case in order. I know that I am righteous.

Though I am like a rotten thing that decays, like a garment that is moth-eaten.

Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months is with thee, and thou have appointed his bounds that he cannot pass,

look away from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as a hireling, his day.

For there is hope of a tree, if it is cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch of it will not cease.

O that thou would hide me in Sheol, that thou would keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou would appoint for me a set time, and remember me!

What do thou know, that we do not know? What do thou understand, which is not in us?

Are the consolations of God too small for thee, even the word that is gentle toward thee?

that against God thou turn thy spirit, and let words go out of thy mouth?

What is man, that he should be clean? And he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?

I will show thee. Hear thou me, and that which I have seen I will declare,

The wicked man travails with pain all his days, even the number of years that are laid up for the oppressor.

He does not believe that he shall return out of darkness. And he is awaited by the sword.

He wanders abroad for bread, [saying], Where is it? He knows that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.

Shall vain words have an end? Or what provokes thee that thou answer?

that he would maintain the right of a man with God, and of a son of man with his neighbor!

Give now a pledge, be surety for me with thyself. Who is there that will strike hands with me?

There shall dwell in his tent that which is none of his. Brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation.

These ten times ye have reproached me. Ye are not ashamed that ye deal hardly with me.

And be it indeed that I have erred, my error remains with myself.

know now that God has subverted me, and has encompassed me with his net.

He has walled up my way that I cannot pass, and has set darkness in my paths.

O that my words were now written! O that they were inscribed in a book,

that they were engraved in the rock forever with an iron pen and lead!

But as for me I know that my Redeemer lives, and at last he will stand up upon the earth.

If ye say, How we will persecute him! And that the root of the matter is found in me,

be ye afraid of the sword. For wrath [brings] the punishments of the sword, that ye may know there is a judgment.

Therefore my thoughts cause me to answer, even because of my haste that is in me.

that the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the profane but for a moment?

That which he labored for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down. According to the substance that he has gotten, he shall not rejoice.

Because he knew no quietness within him, he shall not save any of that in which he delights.

There was nothing left that he did not devour, therefore his prosperity shall not endure.

All darkness is laid up for his treasures. A fire not blown shall devour him. It shall consume that which is left in his tent.

What is the Almighty that we should serve him? And what profit should we have, if we pray to him?

How often is it that the lamp of the profane is put out, that their calamity comes upon them, that [God] distributes sorrows in his anger,

that they are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carries away?

[Ye say], God lays up his iniquity for his sons. Let him recompense it to himself that he may know it.

that the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity? That they are led forth to the day of wrath?

Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that thou are righteous? Or is it gain [to him] that thou make thy ways perfect?

Is it for thy fear [of him] that he reproves thee, that he enters with thee into judgment?

or darkness, so that thou cannot see, and abundance of waters cover thee.

Thick clouds are a covering to him, so that he does not see, and he walks on the vault of heaven.

O that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his seat!

on the left hand, when he works, but I cannot behold him. He hides himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him.

But he knows the way that I take. When he has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

But he is in one [mind], and who can turn him? And what his soul desires, even that he does.

For he performs that which is appointed for me. And many such things are with him.

[so that] they go about naked without clothing, and being hungry they carry the sheaves.

How thou have helped him who is without power! How thou have saved the arm that has no strength!

Far be it from me that I should justify you. Till I die I will not put away my integrity from me.

I will teach you concerning the hand of God. That which is with the Almighty I will not conceal.

No bird of prey knows that path, nor has the falcon's eye seen it.

He binds the streams that they not trickle. And the thing that is hid he brings forth to light.

And to man he said, Behold, the fear of LORD, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding.

O that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me,

so that they dwell in frightful valleys, in holes of the earth and of the rocks.

In the night season my bones are pierced in me, and the [pains] that gnaw me take no rest.

For I know that thou will bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living.

(let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know my integrity);

For that is a heinous crime, yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges.

For it is a fire that consumes to destruction, and would root out all my increase.

if I have seen any perish for lack of clothing, or that the needy had no covering;

(this also is an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I would have denied the God that is above);

because I feared the great multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me so that I kept silence, and did not go out of the door--

O that I had someone to hear me (Lo, here is my signature, let the Almighty answer me), and [that I had] the indictment which my adversary has written!

And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his anger was kindled.

I will speak that I may be refreshed. I will open my lips and answer.

My words [shall utter] the uprightness of my heart, and that which my lips know they shall speak sincerely.

that he may withdraw man [from his] purpose, and hide pride from man.

so that his life abhors bread, and his soul dainty food.

His flesh is consumed away that it cannot be seen. And his bones that were not seen stick out.

He prays to God, and he is favorable to him, so that he sees his face with joy, and he restores to man his righteousness.

He sings before men, and says, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it did not profit me.

to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.

Let us choose for us that which is right. Let us know among ourselves what is good.

For he needs no further to consider a man, that he should go before God in judgment.

Therefore he takes knowledge of their works, and he overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed.

so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him, and he heard the cry of the afflicted.

that the profane man not reign, that there be none to ensnare the people.