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Then Job answered and said
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I know it is so of a truth but how should man be just with God
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If he will contend with him he cannot answer him one of a thousand
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He is wise in heart and mighty in strength who hath hardened himself against him and hath prospered
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Which removeth the mountains and they know not which overturneth them in his anger
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Which shaketh the earth out of her place and the pillars thereof tremble
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Which commandeth the sun and it riseth not and sealeth up the stars
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Which alone spreadeth out the heavens and treadeth upon the waves of the sea
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Which maketh Arcturus Orion and Pleiades and the chambers of the south
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Which doeth great things past finding out yea and wonders without number
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Lo he goeth by me and I see him not he passeth on also but I perceive him not
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Behold he taketh away who can hinder him who will say unto him What doest thou
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If God will not withdraw his anger the proud helpers do stoop under him
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How much less shall I answer him and choose out my words to reason with him
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Whom though I were righteous yet would I not answer but I would make supplication to my judge
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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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For he breaketh me with a tempest and multiplieth my wounds without cause
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He will not suffer me to take my breath but filleth me with bitterness
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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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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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Though I were perfect yet would I not know my soul I would despise my life
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This is one thing therefore I said it He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked
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If the scourge slay suddenly he will laugh at the trial of the innocent
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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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Now my days are swifter than a post they flee away they see no good
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They are passed away as the swift ships as the eagle that hasteth to the prey
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If I say I will forget my complaint I will leave off my heaviness and comfort myself
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I am afraid of all my sorrows I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent
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If I be wicked why then labour I in vain
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If I wash myself with snow water and make my hands never so clean
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Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch 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 and we should come together in judgment
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Neither is there any daysman betwixt us that might lay his hand upon us both
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Let him take his rod away from me and let not his fear terrify me
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Then would I speak and not fear him but it is not so with me