IX. 1909-14. The Book of Job. The Harvard Classics

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The Book of Job.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14.


[1]	THEN Job answered and said,
[2]	Of a truth I know that it is so: But 1 how can man be just with 2 God?
[3]	If 3 he be pleased to contend with him, He cannot answer him one of a thousand.
[4]	He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: Who hath hardened himself against him, and prospered?—
[5]	Him that removeth the mountains, and they know it not, When he overturneth them in his anger;
[6]	That shaketh the earth out of its place, And the pillars thereof tremble;
[7]	That commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, And sealeth up the stars;
[8]	That alone stretcheth out the heavens, And treadeth upon the waves 4 of the sea;
[9]	That maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the chambers of the south;
[10]	That doeth great things past finding out, Yea, marvellous things without number.
[11]	Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: He passeth on also, but I perceive him not.
[12]	Behold, he seizeth the prey, who can hinder 5 him? Who will say unto him, What doest thou?
[13]	God will not withdraw his anger; The helpers of Rahab 6 do 7 stoop under him.
[14]	How much less shall I answer him, And choose out my words to reason with him?
[15]	Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer; I would make supplication to my judge.
[16]	If I had called, and he had answered me, Yet would I not believe that he hearkened unto my voice.
[17]	For 8 he breaketh me with a tempest, And multiplieth my wounds without cause.
[18]	He will not suffer me to take my breath, But filleth me with bitterness.
[19]	If we speak of strength, lo, 9 he is mighty! And if of justice, Who, saith he, will summon me?
[20]	Though I be righteous, mine own mouth shall condemn me: Though I be perfect, it 10 shall prove me perverse.
[21]	I 11 am perfect; I regard not myself; I despise my life.
[22]	It is all one; therefore I say, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
[23]	If the scourge slay suddenly, He will mock at the trial 12 of the innocent.
[24]	The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He covereth the faces of the judges thereof: If it be not he, who then is it?

[25]	Now my days are swifter than a post: 13 They flee away, they see no good.
[26]	They are passed away as the swift 14 ships; As the eagle that swoopeth on the prey.
[27]	If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad countenance, and be 15 of good cheer;
[28]	I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
[29]	I shall be condemned; Why then do I labor in vain?
[30]	If I wash myself with 16 snow water, And make 17 my hands never so clean;
[31]	Yet wilt thou plunge me in the ditch, And mine own clothes shall abhor me.
[32]	For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, That we should come together in judgment.
[33]	There is no umpire betwixt us, That might lay his hand upon us both.
[34]	Let him take his rod away from me, And let not his terror make me afraid:
[35]	Then would I speak, and not fear him; For I am not so in myself.