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 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 argue with the Mighty God.
4 But you smear lies; you are all worthless physicians.
5 O that you would be silent and stop talking, and it would be your wisdom!
6 Now listen to my arguments, and pay attention to the complaint of my lips.
7 Will you speak unjustly for the Mighty God, and talk deceitfully for Him?
8 Will you show partiality for Him? Will you contend for the Mighty God?
9 Will it be well when He searches you out? Or do you mock Him as one mocks a man?
10 He will surely rebuke you if you secretly show partiality.
11 Will not His loftiness make you afraid, and the dread of Him fall upon you?
12 Your remembered proverbs are worthless; your backs are backs of clay.
13 Keep quiet, let me be, that I may speak; then let pass over me what will!
14 Why do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my soul in my hands?
15 Though He slay me, yet will I wait for Him; but I will prove my own ways before Him.
16 He also is my salvation, for a hypocrite can not come before Him.
17 Listen and pay attention to my speech; to my declaration with your ears.
18 Behold now, I have prepared my case; I know that I shall be justified.
19 Who is he who will contend with me? For if I am silent, I will die.
20 Only two things do not do to me, O God, then I will not hide myself from Your face:
21 Remove 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, and 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 terrify 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 all my paths. You set a limit for the soles of my feet;
28 worn out like a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten.