" aBehold, my eye
has seen
all
this, My ear
has heard
and understood
it.
" aWhat you know
I also
know
; I am not inferior
to you.
"But aI would speak to 1the Almighty
, And I desire
to bargue
with God
.
"But you asmear with lies
; You are all
bworthless
physicians
.
"O that you would abe completely
silent
, And that it would become
your wisdom
!
"Please hear
my argument
And listen
to the contentions
of my lips
.
"Will you aspeak what
is unjust
for God
, And speak
what
is deceitful
for Him?
"Will you ashow partiality
for Him? Will you contend
for God
?
"Will it be well when
He examines
you? Or
awill you deceive
Him as one deceives
a man
?
"He will surely reprove
you If
you secretly
ashow
partiality
.
"Will not aHis 1majesty terrify
you, And the dread
of Him fall
on you?
"Your memorable sayings
are proverbs
of ashes
, Your defenses
are defenses
of clay
.
" aBe silent before
me so that I may speak
; Then let come
on me what
may.
"Why should I take
my flesh
in my teeth
And aput
my life
in my 1hands
?
" aThough He slay
me, I will hope
in Him. Nevertheless
I bwill argue
my ways
1before
Him.
"This also
will be my asalvation
, For ba godless
man
may not come
before His presence
.
"Listen carefully
to my speech
, And let my declaration
fill your ears
.
"Behold now
, I have aprepared
my case
; I know
that bI will be vindicated
.
" aWho will contend
with me? For then
I would be silent
and bdie
.
"Only two
things
do not do
to me, Then
I will not hide
from Your face
:
aRemove Your 1hand
from me, And let not the dread
of You terrify
me.
"Then call, and aI will answer
; Or
let me speak
, then reply
to me.
" aHow many
are my iniquities
and sins
? Make
known
to me my 1rebellion
and my sin
.
"Why do You ahide
Your face
And consider
me bYour enemy
?
"Will You cause a adriven
leaf
to tremble
? Or will You pursue
the dry
bchaff
?
"For You write abitter
things
against
me And bmake me to inherit
the iniquities
of my youth
.
"You aput my feet
in the stocks
And watch
all
my paths
; You 1set
a limit
for the soles
of my feet
,
While 1I am decaying like a arotten
thing
, Like a garment
that is moth-eaten
.