[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] O that ye would altogether hold your peace, and it should be your wisdom! [6] Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips. [7] Will ye speak wickedly for God, and talk deceitfully for Him? [8] Will ye accept His person; will ye contend for God? [9] Is it good that He should search you out? Or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock Him? [10] He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons. [11] Shall not His excellency make you afraid, and His dread fall upon you? [12] Your remembrances are like unto 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 mine hand? [15] Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him; but I will argue mine own ways before Him. [16] He also shall be my salvation, for a hypocrite shall not come before Him. [17] Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears. [18] Behold now, I have prepared 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 unto me; then will I not hide myself from Thee: [21] Withdraw Thine hand far from me, and let not Thy dread 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] Why hidest Thou Thy face, and holdest me for Thine enemy? [25] Wilt Thou break a leaf driven to and fro? And wilt Thou pursue the dry stubble? [26] For Thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth. [27] Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; Thou settest a mark upon the heels of my feet. [28] And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is motheaten.
