[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 my case with God.
[4] “As for you, you whitewash with lies; worthless physicians are you all.
[5] “Oh that you would keep silent, and it would be your wisdom!
[6] “Hear now my argument and listen to the pleadings of my lips.
[7] “Will you speak falsely for God and speak deceitfully for him?
[8] “Will you show partiality toward him? Will you plead the case for God?
[9] “Will it be well with you when he searches you out? Or can you deceive him, as one deceives a man?
[10] “He will surely rebuke you if in secret you show partiality.
[11] “Will not his majesty terrify you, and the dread of him fall upon you?
[12] “Your maxims are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay.
[13] “Let me have silence, and I will speak, and let come on me what may.
[14] “Why should I take my flesh in my teeth and put my life in my hand?
[15] “Though he slay me, I will hope in him; yet I will argue my ways to his face.
[16] “This will be my salvation, that the godless shall not come before him.
[17] “Keep listening to my words, and let my declaration be in your ears.
[18] “Behold, I have prepared my case; I know that I shall be in the right.
[19] “Who is there who will contend with me? For then I would be silent and die.
[20] “Only grant me two things, then I will not hide myself from your face:
[21] “withdraw your hand far from me, and let not dread of you terrify me.
[22] “Then call, and I will answer; or let me speak, and you reply to me.
[23] “How many are my iniquities and my sins? Make me know my transgression and my sin.
[24] “Why do you hide your face and count me as your enemy?
[25] “Will you frighten a driven leaf and pursue dry chaff?
[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] “Man wastes away like a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten.