A reading from the book of Job.

Then Job answered and said,

Truly, I know that it is so.

But how can a man be in the right before God?

If one wished to contend with him,

one could not answer him once in a thousand times.

He is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who has hardened himself

against him and succeeded? He who removes mountains, and they know it not, when he overturns

them in his anger, who shakes the earth out of its place and its pillars tremble, who commands the

sun and it does not rise, who seals up the stars,

who alone stretched out the heavens and trampled the waves of the sea, who made the bear

and Orion, the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south, who does great things beyond searching

out and marvelous things beyond number.

Behold, he passes by me, and I see him not.

He moves on, but I do not perceive him.

Behold, he snatches away.

Who can turn him back?

Who will say to him, what are you doing?

God will not turn back his anger. Beneath him bowed the helpers of Rehab. How then can I answer him, choosing my words with him? Though I am in the

right, I cannot answer him. I must appeal for mercy to my accuser. If I summoned him and he answered me, I would not believe

that he was listening to my voice. For he crushes me with a tempest and multiplies my wounds

without cause, he will not let me get my breath, but fills me with bitterness. If it is a contest

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