1 See, my eye has seen all this, my ear has heard and understood it.

2 What you know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior to you.

3 Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.

4 But you are forgers of lies, you are all physicians of no value.

5 O that you would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.

6 Hear now my reasoning, and listen to the pleadings of my lips.

7 Will you speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?

8 Will you accept his person? will you contend for God?

9 Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocks another, do you so mock him?

10 He will surely reprove you, if you do secretly accept persons.

11 Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall on you?

12 Your remembrances are like to ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.

13 Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.

14 Why do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand?

15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain my own ways before him.

16 He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.

17 Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.

18 Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.

19 Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.

20 Only do not two things to me: then will I not hide myself from you.

21 Withdraw your hand far from me: and let not your dread make me afraid.

22 Then call you, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer you me.

23 How many are my iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin.

24 Why hide you your face, and hold me for your enemy?

25 Will you break a leaf driven to and fro? and will you pursue the dry stubble?

26 For you write bitter things against me, and make me to possess the iniquities of my youth.

27 You put my feet also in the stocks, and look narrowly to all my paths; you set a print on the heels of my feet.

28 And he, as a rotten thing, consumes, as a garment that is moth eaten.

1 Lo, mine eye hath seen all this,

Mine ear hath heard and understood it.

2 What ye know, the same do I know also:

I am not inferior unto you.

3 Surely I would speak to the Almighty,

And I desire to reason with God.

4 But ye are forgers of lies;

Ye are all physicians of no value.

5 Oh that ye would altogether hold your peace!

And it would be your wisdom.

6 Hear now my reasoning,

And hearken to the pleadings of my lips.

7 Will ye speak unrighteously for God,

And talk deceitfully for him?

8 Will ye show partiality to him?

Will ye contend for God?

9 Is it good that he should search you out?

Or as one deceiveth a man, will ye deceive him?

10 He will surely reprove you,

If ye do secretly show partiality.

11 Shall not his majesty make you afraid,

And his dread fall upon you?

12 Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes,

Your defences are defences of clay.

13 Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak;

And let come on me what will.

14 Wherefore should I take my flesh in my teeth,

And put my life in my hand?

15 Behold, he will slay me; I have no hope:

Nevertheless I will maintain my ways before him.

16 This also shall be my salvation,

That a godless man shall not come before him.

17 Hear diligently my speech,

And let my declaration be in your ears.

18 Behold now, I have set my cause in order;

I know that I am righteous.

19 Who is he that will contend with me?

For then would I hold my peace and give up the ghost.

20 Only do not two things unto me;

Then will I not hide myself from thy face:

21 Withdraw thy hand far from me;

And let not thy terror make me afraid.

22 Then call thou, and I will answer;

Or let me speak, and answer thou me.

23 How many are mine iniquities and sins?

Make me to know my transgression and my sin.

24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face,

And holdest me for thine enemy?

25 Wilt thou harass a driven leaf?

And wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?

26 For thou writest bitter things against me,

And makest me to inherit the iniquities of my youth:

27 Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks,

And markest all my paths;

Thou settest a bound to the soles of my feet:

28 Though I am like a rotten thing that consumeth,

Like a garment that is moth-eaten.