That doeth great things past finding out, Yea, marvellous things without number.

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

Now my days are swifter than a post: They flee away, they see no good,

They are passed away as the swift ships; As the eagle that swoopeth on the prey.

I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt 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.

There is no umpire betwixt us, That might lay his hand upon us both.

Is it good unto thee that thou shouldest oppress, That thou shouldest despise the work of thy hands, And shine upon the counsel of the wicked?

That thou inquirest after mine iniquity, And searchest after my sin,

Although thou knowest that I am not wicked, And there is none that can deliver out of thy hand?

Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast fashioned me as clay; And wilt thou bring me into dust again?

Yet these things thou didst hide 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 oh 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 exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.

It is high as heaven; what canst thou do? Deeper than Sheol; what canst thou know?

The measure thereof is longer than the earth, And broader than the sea.

For thou shalt forget thy misery; Thou shalt remember it as waters that are passed away,

And thy life shall be clearer than the noonday; Though there be darkness, it shall be as the morning.

I am as one that is a laughing-stock to his neighbor, I who called upon God, and he answered: The just, the perfect man is a laughing-stock.

In the thought of him that is at ease there is contempt for misfortune; It is ready for them whose foot slippeth.

The tents of robbers prosper, And they that provoke God are secure; Into whose hand God bringeth abundantly .

Who knoweth not in all these, That the hand of Jehovah hath wrought this,

Oh that ye would altogether hold your peace! And it would be your wisdom.

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

Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak; And let come on me what will.

This also shall be my salvation, That a godless man shall not come before him.

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

Who is he that will contend with me? For then would I hold my peace and give up the ghost.

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

Man, that is born of a woman, Is of few days, and full of trouble.

Seeing his days are determined, The number of his months is with thee, And thou hast 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 be cut down, that it will sprout again, And that the tender branch thereof will not cease.

Oh that thou wouldest hide me in Sheol, That thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, That thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!

Art thou the first man that was born? Or wast thou brought forth before the hills?

What knowest thou, that we know not? What understandest thou, which is not in us?

With us are both the gray-headed and the very aged men, Much elder than thy father.

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

That against God thou turnest thy spirit, And lettest words go out of thy mouth?

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

How much less one that is abominable and corrupt, A man that drinketh iniquity like water!

I will show thee, hear thou me; And that which I have seen I will declare:

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

He believeth not that he shall return out of darkness, And he is waited for of the sword.

He wandereth abroad for bread,'saying , Where is it? He knoweth that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.

Shall vain words have an end? Or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?

Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, And he that voucheth for me is on high.

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?

He that denounceth his friends for a prey, Even the eyes of his children shall fail.

Yet shall the righteous hold on his way, And he that hath clean hands shall wax stronger and stronger.

Thou that tearest thyself in thine anger, Shall the earth be forsaken for thee? Or shall the rock be removed out of its place?

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

They that come after shall be astonished at his day, As they that went before were affrighted.

Surely such are the dwellings of the unrighteous, And this is the place of him that knoweth not God.

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

And be it indeed that I have erred, Mine error remaineth with myself.

Know now that God hath subverted me in my cause , And hath compassed me with his net.

He hath walled up my way that I cannot pass, And hath set darkness in my paths.

They that dwell in my house, and my maids, count me for a stranger; I am an alien in their sight.

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

That with an iron pen and lead They were graven in the rock for ever!

But as for me I know that my Redeemer liveth, 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 bringeth the punishments of the sword, That ye may know there is a judgment.

Therefore do my thoughts give answer to me, Even by reason of my haste that is in me.

That the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the godless but for a moment?

Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: They that have seen him shall say, Where is he?

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

Because he knew no quietness within him, He shall not save aught of that wherein he delighteth.

There was nothing left that he devoured not; Therefore his prosperity shall not endure.

In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: The hand of every one that is in misery shall come upon him.

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

Suffer me, and I also will speak; And after that I have spoken, mock on.

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

How oft is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? That their calamity cometh upon them? That God distributeth sorrows in his anger?

That they are as stubble before the wind, And as chaff that the storm carrieth away?

Ye say , God layeth up his iniquity for his children. Let him recompense it unto himself, that he may know it:

Shall any teach God knowledge, Seeing he judgeth those that are high?

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

Can a man be profitable unto God? Surely he that is wise is profitable unto himself.

Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? Or is it gain to him , that thou makest thy ways perfect?

Is it for thy fear of him that he reproveth thee, That he entereth with thee into judgment?

Or darkness, so that thou canst not see, And abundance of waters cover thee.

Thick clouds are a covering to him, so that he seeth not; And he walketh on the vault of heaven.

Saying , Surely they that did rise up against us are cut off, And the remnant of them the fire hath consumed.

He will deliver even him that is not innocent: Yea, he shall be delivered through the cleanness of thy hands.

Even to-day is my complaint rebellious: My stroke is heavier than my groaning.

Oh that I knew where I might find him! That I might come even to his seat!

On the left hand, when he doth work, but I cannot behold him; He hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him.

But he knoweth the way that I take; When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

I have not gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured up the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

But he is in one mind , and who can turn him? And what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.

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

Why are times not laid up by the Almighty? And why do not they that know him see his days?

There are that remove the landmarks; They violently take away flocks, and feed them.

There are that pluck the fatherless from the breast, And take a pledge of the poor;

So that they go about naked without clothing, And being hungry they carry the sheaves.

These are of them that rebel against the light; They know not the ways thereof, Nor abide in the paths thereof.