1
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And Job answered, and said:
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2
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Indeed I know it is so, and that man cannot be justified, compared with God.
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3
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If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one for a thousand.
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4
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He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath resisted him, and hath had peace?
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5
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Who hath removed mountains, and they whom he overthrew in his wrath, knew it not.
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6
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Who shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.
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7
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Who commandeth the sun, and it riseth not: and shutteth up the stars, as it were, under a seal:
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8
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Who alone spreadeth out the heavens, and walketh upon the waves of the sea
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9
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Who maketh Arcturus, and Orion, and Hyades, and the inner parts of the south.
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10
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Who doth things great and incomprehensible, and wonderful, of which there is no number.
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11
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If he come to me, I shall not see him: if he depart, I shall not understand.
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12
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If he examine on a sudden, who shall answer him? or who can say: Why dost thou so?
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13
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God, whose wrath no man can resist, and under whom they stoop that bear up the world.
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14
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What am I then, that I should answer him, and have words with him?
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15
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I, who although I should have any just thing, would not answer, but would make supplication to my judge.
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16
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And if he should hear me when I call, I should not believe that he had heard my voice.
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17
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For he shall crush me in a whirlwind, and multiply my wounds even without cause.
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18
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He alloweth not my spirit to rest, and he filleth me with bitterness.
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19
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If strength be demanded, he is most strong: if equity of judgment, no man dare bear witness for me.
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20
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If I would justify myself, my own mouth shall condemn me: if I would shew myself innocent, he shall prove me wicked.
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21
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Although I should be simple, even this my soul shall be ignorant of, and I shall be weary of my life.
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22
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One thing there is that I have spoken, both the innocent and the wicked he consumeth.
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23
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If he scourge, let him kill at once, and not laugh at the pains of the innocent.
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24
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The earth is given into the hand of the wicked, he covereth the face of the judges thereof: and if it be not he, who is it then?
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25
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My days have been swifter than a post: they have fled away and have not seen good.
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26
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They have passed by as ships carrying fruits, as an eagle flying to the prey.
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27
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If I say: I will not speak so: I change my face, and am tormented with sorrow.
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28
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I feared all my works, knowing that thou didst not spare the offender.
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29
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But if so also I am wicked, why have I laboured in vain?
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30
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If I be washed, as it were, with snow waters, and my hands shall shine ever so clean:
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31
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Yet thou shalt plunge me in filth, and my garments shall abhor me.
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32
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For I shall not answer a man that is like myself: nor one that may be heard with me equally in judgment.
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33
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There is none that may be able to reprove both, and to put his hand between both.
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34
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Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me.
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35
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I will speak, and will not fear him: for I cannot answer while I am in fear.
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