| 1 | “Look, my eye has seen all this, my ear has heard and understood it. |
| 2 | What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you. |
| 3 | But I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to argue my case with God. |
| 4 | As for you, you whitewash with lies; all of you are worthless physicians. |
| 5 | If you would only keep silent, that would be your wisdom! |
| 6 | Hear now my reasoning, and listen to the pleadings of my lips. |
| 7 | Will you speak falsely for God, and speak deceitfully for him? |
| 8 | Will you show partiality toward him, will you plead the case for God? |
| 9 | Will it be well with you when he searches you out? Or can you deceive him, as one person deceives another? |
| 10 | He will surely rebuke you if in secret you show partiality. |
| 11 | Will not his majesty terrify you, and the dread of him fall upon you? |
| 12 | Your maxims are proverbs of ashes, your defenses are defenses of clay. |
| 13 | “Let me have silence, and I will speak, and let come on me what may. |
| 14 | I will take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand. |
| 15 | See, he will kill me; I have no hope; but I will defend my ways to his face. |
| 16 | This will be my salvation, that the godless shall not come before him. |
| 17 | Listen carefully to my words, and let my declaration be in your ears. |
| 18 | I have indeed prepared my case; I know that I shall be vindicated. |
| 19 | Who is there that will contend with me? For then I would be silent and die. |
| 20 | Only grant two things to me, then I will not hide myself from your face: |
| 21 | withdraw your hand far from me, and do not let dread of you terrify me. |
| 22 | Then call, and I will answer; or let me speak, and you reply to me. |
| 23 | How many are my iniquities and my sins? Make me know my transgression and my sin. |
| 24 | Why do you hide your face, and count me as your enemy? |
| 25 | Will you frighten a windblown leaf and pursue dry chaff? |
| 26 | For you write bitter things against me, and make me reap the iniquities of my youth. |
| 27 | You put my feet in the stocks, and watch all my paths; you set a bound to the soles of my feet. |
| 28 | One wastes away like a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten. |
