Job's Inability to Answer God |
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Then Job answered and said,
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I know it is so of a truth:
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but how should man be just with God? |
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If he will contend with him,
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he cannot answer him one of a thousand. |
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He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength:
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who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered? |
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which removeth the mountains, and they know not;
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which overturneth them in his anger; |
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which shaketh the earth out of her place,
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and the pillars thereof tremble; |
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which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not;
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and sealeth up the stars; |
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which alone spreadeth out the heavens,
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and treadeth upon the waves of the sea; |
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which maketh Arctu'rus, Ori'on, and Plei'ades, Job. 38.31 · Amos 5.8
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and the chambers of the south; |
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which doeth great things past finding out;
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yea, and wonders without number. |
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Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not:
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he passeth on also, but I perceive him not. |
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Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him?
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Who will say unto him, What doest thou? |
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If God will not withdraw his anger,
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the proud helpers do stoop under him. |
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How much less shall I answer him,
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and choose out my words to reason with him? |
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whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer,
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but I would make supplication to my judge. |
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If I had called, and he had answered me;
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yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice. |
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For he breaketh me with a tempest,
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and multiplieth my wounds without cause. |
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He will not suffer me to take my breath,
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but filleth me with bitterness. |
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If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong:
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and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead? |
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If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me:
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if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse. |
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Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul:
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This is one thing, therefore I said it,
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He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked. |
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If the scourge slay suddenly,
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he will laugh at the trial of the innocent. |
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The earth is given into the hand of the wicked:
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he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; |
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if not, where, and who is he? |
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Now my days are swifter than a post:
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they flee away, they see no good. |
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They are passed away as the swift ships:
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as the eagle that hasteth to the prey. |
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If I say, I will forget my complaint,
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I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself; |
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I am afraid of all my sorrows,
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I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent. |
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If I be wicked,
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why then labor I in vain? |
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If I wash myself with snow water,
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and make my hands never so clean; |
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yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch,
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and mine own clothes shall abhor me. |
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For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him,
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and we should come together in judgment. |
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Neither is there any daysman betwixt us,
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that might lay his hand upon us both. |
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Let him take his rod away from me,
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and let not his fear terrify me: |
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then would I speak, and not fear him;
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but it is not so with me. |
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