² I know for certain that this is so;
    and how can anyone be innocent before God?
³ If one wants to contend with him,
    he won’t answer one in a thousand.
⁴ He is wise^[a] and powerful;
    who can resist him and prosper?
⁵ Who removes mountains, and they are unaware;
    who overthrows them in anger?
⁶ Who shakes the earth from its place,
    and its pillars shudder?
⁷ Who commands the sun, and it does not rise,
    even seals up the stars;
⁸     stretched out the heavens alone
    and trod on the waves of the Sea;^[b]
9     made the Bear and Orion, Pleiades
    and the southern constellations;
¹⁰     does great and unsearchable things,
    wonders beyond number?

¹¹ If God goes by me, I can’t see him;
    he glides past, and I can’t perceive him.
¹² If he seizes, who can bring back?
    Who can say to him, “What are you doing?”
¹³ God won’t retract his anger;
    the helpers of Rahab bow beneath him.
¹⁴ Yet I myself will answer him;
    I’ll choose my words in a contest^[c] with him.
¹⁵ Even if I’m innocent, I can’t answer;
    I must plead for justice.
¹⁶ If I were to call and he answered me,
    I couldn’t believe that he heard my voice.