1 "aBehold, my eye has seen all this, My ear has heard and understood it. 2 "aWhat you know I also know; I am not inferior to you. 3 "But aI would speak to the Almighty, And I desire to bargue with God. 4 "But you asmear with lies; You are all bworthless physicians. 5 "O that you would abe completely silent, And that it would become your wisdom! 6 "Please hear my argument And listen to the contentions of my lips. 7 "Will you aspeak what is unjust for God, And speak what is deceitful for Him? 8 "Will you ashow partiality for Him? Will you contend for God? 9 "Will it be well when He examines you? Or awill you deceive Him as one deceives a man? 10 "He will surely reprove you If you secretly ashow partiality. 11 "Will not aHis majesty terrify you, And the dread of Him fall on you? 12 "Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes, Your defenses are defenses of clay. 13 "aBe silent before me so that I may speak; Then let come on me what may. 14 "Why should I take my flesh in my teeth And aput my life in my hands? 15 "aThough He slay me, I will hope in Him. Nevertheless I bwill argue my ways before Him. 16 "This also will be my asalvation, For ba godless man may not come before His presence. 17 "Listen carefully to my speech, And let my declaration fill your ears. 18 "Behold now, I have aprepared my case; I know that bI will be vindicated. 19 "aWho will contend with me? For then I would be silent and bdie. 20 "Only two things do not do to me, Then I will not hide from Your face: 21 aRemove Your hand from me, And let not the dread of You terrify me. 22 "Then call, and aI will answer; Or let me speak, then reply to me. 23 "aHow many are my iniquities and sins? Make known to me my rebellion and my sin. 24 "Why do You ahide Your face And consider me bYour enemy? 25 "Will You cause a adriven leaf to tremble? Or will You pursue the dry bchaff? 26 "For You write abitter things against me And bmake me to inherit the iniquities of my youth. 27 "You aput my feet in the stocks And watch all my paths; You set a limit for the soles of my feet, 28 While I am decaying like a arotten thing, Like a garment that is moth-eaten.