| 1 | “Behold, 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 reason with God. |
| 4 | But you forgers of lies, You are all worthless physicians. |
| 5 | Oh, that you would be silent, And it would be your wisdom! |
| 6 | Now hear my reasoning, And heed the pleadings of my lips. |
| 7 | Will you speak wickedly for God, And talk deceitfully for Him? |
| 8 | Will you show partiality for Him? Will you contend for God? |
| 9 | Will it be well when He searches you out? Or can you mock Him as one mocks a man? |
| 10 | He will surely rebuke you If you secretly show partiality. |
| 11 | Will not His excellence make you afraid, And the dread of Him fall upon you? |
| 12 | Your platitudes are proverbs of ashes, Your defenses are defenses of clay. |
| 13 | “Hold your peace with me, and let me speak, Then let come on me what may! |
| 14 | Why do I take my flesh in my teeth, And put my life in my hands? |
| 15 | Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him. |
| 16 | He also shall be my salvation, For a hypocrite could not come before Him. |
| 17 | Listen carefully to my speech, And to my declaration with your ears. |
| 18 | See now, I have prepared my case, I know that I shall be vindicated. |
| 19 | Who is he who will contend with me? If now I hold my tongue, I perish. |
| 20 | “Only two things do not do to me, Then I will not hide myself from You: |
| 21 | Withdraw Your hand far from me, And let not the dread of You make me afraid. |
| 22 | Then call, and I will answer; Or let me speak, then You respond to me. |
| 23 | How many are my iniquities and sins? Make me know my transgression and my sin. |
| 24 | Why do You hide Your face, And regard me as Your enemy? |
| 25 | Will You frighten a leaf driven to and fro? And will You pursue dry stubble? |
| 26 | For You write bitter things against me, And make me inherit the iniquities of my youth. |
| 27 | You put my feet in the stocks, And watch closely all my paths. You set a limit for the soles of my feet. |
| 28 | “Man decays like a rotten thing, Like a garment that is moth-eaten. |
