1: Then Job answered and said, |
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2: I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with
God? |
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3:
If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a
thousand. |
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4: He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened
himself against him, and hath prospered? |
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5: Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which
overturneth them in his anger. |
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6: Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars
thereof tremble. |
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7: Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up
the stars. |
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8: Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the
waves of the sea. |
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9: Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers
of the south. |
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10: Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders
without number. |
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11: Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also,
but I perceive him not. |
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12: Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto
him, What doest thou? |
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13: If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do
stoop under him. |
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14: How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to
reason with him? |
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15: Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I
would make supplication to my judge. |
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16: If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not
believe that he had hearkened unto my voice. |
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17: For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds
without cause. |
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18: He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with
bitterness. |
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19: If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment,
who shall set me a time to plead? |
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20: If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I
say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse. |
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21: Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would
despise my life. |
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22: This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the
perfect and the wicked. |
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23: If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of
the innocent. |
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24: The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth
the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he? |
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25: Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see
no good. |
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26: They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that
hasteth to the prey. |
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27: If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my
heaviness, and comfort myself: |
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28: I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold
me innocent. |
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29: If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain? |
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30: If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so
clean; |
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31: Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes
shall abhor me. |
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32: For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer
him, and we should come together in judgment. |
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33: Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his
hand upon us both. |
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34: Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear
terrify me: |
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35: Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with
me. |