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1.
Then Job replied:
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2.
"Indeed, I know that this is true. But how can a mortal be righteous before God?
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3.
Though one wished to dispute with him, he could not answer him one time out of a thousand.
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4.
His wisdom is profound, his power is vast. Who has resisted him and come out unscathed?
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5.
He moves mountains without their knowing it and overturns them in his anger.
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6.
He shakes the earth from its place and makes its pillars tremble.
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7.
He speaks to the sun and it does not shine; he seals off the light of the stars.
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8.
He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea.
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9.
He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.
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10.
He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.
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11.
When he passes me, I cannot see him; when he goes by, I cannot perceive him.
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12.
If he snatches away, who can stop him? Who can say to him, 'What are you doing?'
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13.
God does not restrain his anger; even the cohorts of Rahab cowered at his feet.
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14.
"How then can I dispute with him? How can I find words to argue with him?
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15.
Though I were innocent, I could not answer him; I could only plead with my Judge for mercy.
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16.
Even if I summoned him and he responded, I do not believe he would give me a hearing.
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17.
He would crush me with a storm and multiply my wounds for no reason.
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18.
He would not let me regain my breath but would overwhelm me with misery.
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19.
If it is a matter of strength, he is mighty! And if it is a matter of justice, who will summon him?
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20.
Even if I were innocent, my mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, it would pronounce me guilty.
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21.
"Although I am blameless, I have no concern for myself; I despise my own life.
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22.
It is all the same; that is why I say, 'He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.'
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23.
When a scourge brings sudden death, he mocks the despair of the innocent.
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24.
When a land falls into the hands of the wicked, he blindfolds its judges. If it is not he, then who is it?
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25.
"My days are swifter than a runner; they fly away without a glimpse of joy.
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26.
They skim past like boats of papyrus, like eagles swooping down on their prey.
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27.
If I say, 'I will forget my complaint, I will change my expression, and smile,'
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28.
I still dread all my sufferings, for I know you will not hold me innocent.
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29.
Since I am already found guilty, why should I struggle in vain?
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30.
Even if I washed myself with soap and my hands with washing soda,
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31.
you would plunge me into a slime pit so that even my clothes would detest me.
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32.
"He is not a man like me that I might answer him, that we might confront each other in court.
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33.
If only there were someone to arbitrate between us, to lay his hand upon us both,
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34.
someone to remove God's rod from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more.
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35.
Then I would speak up without fear of him, but as it now stands with me, I cannot.
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