Can mankindbe justbeforeGod?Can a manbe purebeforehis Maker?
"Farbe it from You to dosucha thing,to slaythe righteouswith the wicked,so that the righteousand the wickedare [treated] alike. Farbe it from You! Shall not the Judgeof allthe earthdealjustly?"
"Whocan makethe cleanout of the unclean?Noone!
"Whatis man,that he should be pure,Or he who is bornof a woman,that he should be righteous?
"Howthen can a manbe justwith God?Or howcan he be cleanwho is bornof woman?
"Did not He who mademe in the wombmakehim, And the sameonefashionus in the womb?
"For I do not knowhow to flatter,[Else] my Makerwould soontakeme away.
"But noone says,'Whereis Godmy Maker,Who givessongsin the night,
"Do you thinkthisis according to justice?Do you say,'My righteousnessis morethanGod's'?
"I will fetchmy knowledgefrom afar,And I will ascriberighteousnessto my Maker.
"It stoodstill,but I could not discernits appearance;A form[was] beforemy eyes;[There was] silence,then I hearda voice:
"Will you reallyannulMy judgment?Will you condemnMe that you may be justified?
"Does Godpervertjustice?Ordoes the Almightypervertwhatis right?
"In truthI knowthat this is so;But howcan a manbe in the rightbeforeGod?
And do not enterinto judgmentwith Your servant,For in Your sightnomanlivingis righteous.
The LORDis righteousin allHis waysAnd kindin allHis deeds.
Indeed,thereis not a righteousmanon earthwho[continually] doesgoodand who neversins.
Righteousare You, O LORD,that I would plead[my] casewith You; IndeedI would discussmattersof justicewith You: Whyhas the wayof the wickedprospered?[Why] are allthose who dealin treacheryat ease?
"The heartis moredeceitfulthanallelse And is desperatelysick;Whocan understandit?
Oh,the depthof the richesbothof the wisdomand knowledgeof God!Howunsearchableare His judgmentsand unfathomableHis ways!
But becauseof your stubbornnessand unrepentantheartyou are storingup wrathfor yourselfin the dayof wrathand revelationof the righteous judgmentof God,
On the contrary,whoare you, Oman,who answers backto God?The thing moldedwill not sayto the molder,"Whydid you makeme like this,"will it?
And the fourliving creatures,eachoneof them havingsixwings,are fullof eyesaroundand within;and dayand nightthey do not ceaseto say,"HOLY,HOLY,HOLY[is] THE LORDGOD,THE ALMIGHTY,WHOWAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME."
