Then Iyyov answered and said,

Then Iyyov raised his voice and said:

Truly I know it is so: but how should a man be just before God?

Indeed, I, too, know that it is so. And how would a man be right with G d?

If one will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.

If He chooses to dispute with him, he could not give Him even one answer to a thousand questions.

He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who has hardened himself against him, and prospered?

[Who is] wise of heart [to dispute] and grand in strength [to exact punishment]? Who ever hardened [his heart] against Him and remained whole?

he who removes mountains, and they know not: when he overturns them in his anger:

He moves mountains, but they [the people] do not know until He overturns them in His wrath.

who shakes the earth out of her place, and its pillars tremble:

He shakes the earth from its place [(by looking at it)] and its pillars quake.

who commands the sun, and it rises not; and seals up the stars.

He commands the sun and it does not shine, and He seals up [the light of] the stars.

He alone spreads out the heavens, and treads upon the waves of the sea:

He stretches out the heavens alone and treads down the breakers of the sea.

who makes the Bear, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south wind:

He makes the Bear, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chamber of the south wind.

who does great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.

He does great things, which cannot be fathomed, and wonders without end.

Lo, he goes by me, and I see him not: he passes on also, but I perceive him not.

Were He to pass before me, I would not see Him. He would pass by and I would not perceive Him.

Behold, he snatches away, who can hinder him? who will say to him, What doest Thou?

He [smites] suddenly. Who can turn Him back? Who can say to Him: "What are You doing?"

God will not withdraw his anger: the helpers of Rahav stoop under him.

G d does not turn back His wrath [before any man]. Beneath Him are bowed down the [would-be] helpers of the proud [(Egypt)].

How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?

How much less, then, can one such as I remonstrate with Him! [How can] I choose [to place] my words before Him?

Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to him who contends with me.

Even if I am right, I cannot remonstrate with Him. Can I appeal to Him who has passed judgment upon me?

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

Even if I call [Him] and He answer me, I cannot believe [(in my great fear of Him)] that He will hearken to my voice.

For he crushes me with a tempest, and multiplies my wounds without cause:

He crushes me in the tempest and multiplies my wounds without cause.

he will not let me take my breath, but fills me with bitterness.

He does not allow me to restore my spirit, for He sates 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 [He comes against me] with strength, He is [all-] powerful, and if with judgment, who will represent me before Him?

Though I were just, my own mouth would condemn me: though I were innocent, he would prove me perverse.

[Even] if I am right, my mouth will incriminate me; I am innocent and my mouth will make me crooked.

Though I were innocent, yet would I not know myself: I would despise my life.

I am innocent, but I do not know how to find rest. I despise my life.

Therefore I said, It is all one: he destroys the innocent and the wicked.

There is [only] one [(thing in the world — the Satan's scourge)]; that is why I have said He destroys the innocent and the wicked alike.

If the scourge slay suddenly, he would mock at the trial of the innocent.

If the scourge [(of Satan's tongue)] kills [the righteous one] suddenly, he [Satan] will mock the melting of the clean [(that he has slain)].

The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covers the faces of its judges; if not he, then who is it?

The earth has been given into the hands of the wicked one [(Satan)]. He covers the face of its judges [(from perceiving the truth)]. And if it is not [as I say], who is it [that destroys the innocent]?

Now my days are swifter than a runner: they flee away, they see no good.

And my days [(along with those of the other innocent ones)] have been quicker than the runner. They have fled. They have seen no good.

They pass away like the swift ships: like the vulture that swoops on the prey.

They have sped on with the boats of Eveh, as an eagle that swoops down upon its prey.

If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my sad countenance, and comfort myself:

If I say: I will forget my plaint, I will abandon my anger, I will contain myself,

I am afraid of all my pains, I know that Thou wilt not hold me innocent.

I will collect all of my grief [within myself and not cry out] — [even then] I know that You will not acquit me.

I shall be condemned; why then do I labour in vain?

I would be incriminated. Why, then, should I toil in vain?

If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;

Though I washed in waters of snow and cleansed my palms in purity,

yet shalt Thou plunge me in the ditch, and my own clothes shall abhor me.

You would plunge me into the pit [of filth] (i.e., guilt)], and my [very] clothes would despise me.

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

For He is not a man as I am that I can answer Him: "Let us come together in disputation."

There is no umpire between us, who might lay his hand upon us both.

There is no arbiter between us to lay his hand [(i.e., to impose his decision)] upon us both in disputation.

Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:

If He removed His rod from me, and His terror would not confound me,

for then I would speak, and not fear him; for I am not so in myself.

I would speak and not fear Him, for I am not so [(i.e., I am not guilty)] in my eyes.