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

2What you know, I also know;

I am not inferior to you.

3But I would speak to the Almighty,

and I desire to argue my case with God.

4As for you, you whitewash with lies;

worthless physicians are you all.

5Oh that you would keep silent,

and it would be your wisdom!

6Hear now my reasoning,

and listen to the pleadings of my lips.

7Will you speak falsely for God,

and speak deceitfully for him?

8Will you show partiality toward him,

will you plead the case for God?

9Will it be well with you when he searches you out?

Or can you deceive him, as one deceives a man?

10He will surely rebuke you

if in secret you show partiality.

11Will not his majesty terrify you,

and the dread of him fall upon you?

12Your maxims are proverbs of ashes,

your defences are defences of clay.

13“Let me have silence, and I will speak,

and let come on me what may.

14I will take13.14 Gk: Heb Why should I take? my flesh in my teeth,

and put my life in my hand.

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

yet I will defend my ways to his face.

16This will be my salvation,

that a godless man shall not come before him.

17Listen carefully to my words,

and let my declaration be in your ears.

18Behold, I have prepared my case;

I know that I shall be vindicated.

19Who is there that will contend with me?

For then I would be silent and die.

20Only grant two things to me,

then I will not hide myself from thy face:

21withdraw thy hand far from me,

and let not dread of thee terrify me.

22Then call, and I will answer;

or let me speak, and do thou reply to me.

23How many are my iniquities and my sins?

Make me know my transgression and my sin.

24Why dost thou hide thy face,

and count me as thy enemy?

25Wilt thou frighten a driven leaf

and pursue dry chaff?

26For thou writest bitter things against me,

and makest me inherit the iniquities of my youth.

27Thou puttest my feet in the stocks,

and watchest all my paths;

thou settest a bound to the soles of my feet.

28Man13.28 Heb He wastes away like a rotten thing,

like a garment that is moth-eaten.