1 “ Behold, my eye has seen all this. My ear has heard and understood it.
2 W hat you know, I know also. I am not inferior to you.
3 “ Surely I would speak to the Almighty. I desire to reason with God.
4 B ut you are forgers of lies. You are all physicians of no value.
5 O h that you would be completely silent! Then you would be wise.
6 H ear now my reasoning. Listen to the pleadings of my lips.
7 W ill you speak unrighteously for God, and talk deceitfully for him?
8 W ill you show partiality to him? Will you contend for God?
9 I s it good that he should search you out? Or as one deceives a man, will you deceive him?
10 H e will surely reprove you if you secretly show partiality.
11 S hall not his majesty make you afraid, And his dread fall on you?
12 Y our memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes, Your defenses are defenses of clay.
13 “ Be silent, leave me alone, that I may speak. Let come on me what will.
14 W hy should I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand?
15 B ehold, he will kill me. I have no hope. Nevertheless, I will maintain my ways before him.
16 T his also shall be my salvation, that a godless man shall not come before him.
17 H ear diligently my speech. Let my declaration be in your ears.
18 S ee now, I have set my cause in order. I know that I am righteous.
19 W ho is he who will contend with me? For then would I hold my peace and give up the spirit.
20 “ Only don’t do two things to me; then I will not hide myself from your face:
21 w ithdraw your hand far from me; and don’t let your terror make me afraid.
22 T hen call, and I will answer; or let me speak, and you answer me.
23 H ow many are my iniquities and sins? Make me know my disobedience and my sin.
24 W hy hide you your face, and hold me for your enemy?
25 W ill you harass a driven leaf? Will you pursue the dry stubble?
26 F or you write bitter things against me, and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth:
27 Y ou also put my feet in the stocks, and mark all my paths. You set a bound to the soles of my feet,
28 t hough I am decaying like a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten.