For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. {may: Gr. shall}

With whom took he counsel, and {who} instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding? {instructed...: Heb. made him understand} {understanding: Heb. understandings?}

For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters. {he giveth...: Heb. he answereth not}

Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! {Let} the potsherd {strive} with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?

{He is} near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who {is} mine adversary? let him come near to me. {mine...: Heb. the master of my cause?}

Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?

And when they had received {it}, they murmured against the goodman of the house,

What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?

If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.

Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid.

For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.

{Is it} good unto thee that thou shouldest oppress, that thou shouldest despise the work of thine hands, and shine upon the counsel of the wicked? {work: Heb. labour}

For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?

Know now that God hath overthrown me, and hath compassed me with his net.

Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter {in} soul;

{As} God liveth, {who} hath taken away my judgment; and the Almighty, {who} hath vexed my soul; {vexed...: Heb. made my soul bitter}

{Why is light given} to a man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in?

Thou art become cruel to me: with thy strong hand thou opposest thyself against me. {become...: Heb. turned to be cruel} {thy...: Heb. the strength of thy hand}

That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it {is} man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.

God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked. {hath...: Heb. hath shut me up}

{Am} I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me?

If I sin, then thou markest me, and thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity.

How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?

For {he is} not a man, as I {am, that} I should answer him, {and} we should come together in judgment.

Why died I not from the womb? {why} did I {not} give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?

Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. {maintain: Heb. prove, or, argue}

For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. {may: Gr. shall}

And all the inhabitants of the earth {are} reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and {among} the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters. {he giveth...: Heb. he answereth not}

That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it {is} man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.

Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed {it}, Why hast thou made me thus? {repliest...: or, answerest again, or, disputest with God?}

If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.

{It is} the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings {is} to search out a matter.

I have laid a snare for thee, and thou art also taken, O Babylon, and thou wast not aware: thou art found, and also caught, because thou hast striven against the LORD.

Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan against the habitation of the strong: but I will suddenly make him run away from her: and who {is} a chosen {man, that} I may appoint over her? for who {is} like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who {is} that shepherd that will stand before me? {appoint me...: or, convent me in judgment?}

{Is it} good unto thee that thou shouldest oppress, that thou shouldest despise the work of thine hands, and shine upon the counsel of the wicked? {work: Heb. labour}

Behold, {in} this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.

Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as {he did} unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?

Shall {any} teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.

Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?