- 1“Behold, my eye has seen all this. My ear has heard and understood it.
- 2What 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.
- 4But you are forgers of lies. You are all physicians of no value.
- 5Oh that you would be completely silent! Then you would be wise.
- 6Hear now my reasoning. Listen to the pleadings of my lips.
- 7Will you speak unrighteously for God, and talk deceitfully for him?
- 8Will you show partiality to him? Will you contend for God?
- 9Is it good that he should search you out? Or as one deceives a man, will you deceive him?
- 10He will surely reprove you if you secretly show partiality.
- 11Shall not his majesty make you afraid, And his dread fall on you?
- 12Your 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.
- 14Why should I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand?
- 15Behold, he will kill me. I have no hope. Nevertheless, I will maintain my ways before him.
- 16This also shall be my salvation, that a godless man shall not come before him.
- 17Hear diligently my speech. Let my declaration be in your ears.
- 18See now, I have set my cause in order. I know that I am righteous.
- 19Who 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:
- 21withdraw your hand far from me; and don’t let your terror make me afraid.
- 22Then call, and I will answer; or let me speak, and you answer me.
- 23How many are my iniquities and sins? Make me know my disobedience and my sin.
- 24Why hide you your face, and hold me for your enemy?
- 25Will you harass a driven leaf? Will you pursue the dry stubble?
- 26For you write bitter things against me, and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth:
- 27You also put my feet in the stocks, and mark all my paths. You set a bound to the soles of my feet,
- 28though I am decaying like a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten.