1 “Notice, my eye has seen all this;my ear has heard and understood it.
2 What you know, I also know the same;I am not inferior to you.
3 Surely I would speak to the Almighty,and I desire to reason with God.
4 But you are plasterers of falsehood;you are all physicians of no value.
5 Oh, that you would altogether hold your peace,and it would be your wisdom!
6 Hear now my reasoning,and listen to the pleadings of my lips.
7 Will you speak wickedly for God?And talk deceitfully for Him?
8 Will you take His side?Will you plead for God?
9 Is it good that He would search you out?Or as one man mocks another, do you so mock Him?
10 He will surely rebuke you,if you secretly show partiality.
11 Will not His excellence make you afraid,and the dread of Him fall upon you?
12 Your reminders are parables made of ashes;your answers are answers made of clay.
13 “Hold your peace; leave me alone, that I may speak,and let come on me what may!
14 Why do I take my flesh in my teethand put my life in my hand?
15 Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him,but I will defend my own ways before Him.
16 He also will be my salvation,for a hypocrite could not come before Him.
17 Listen carefully to my speech,and to my declaration with your ears.
18 See now, I have prepared my case;I know that I will be justified.
19 Who is he who will plead with me?For now, if I hold my tongue, I will give up my breath.
20 “Only grant me two things,then I will not hide myself from You:
21 Withdraw Your hand far from me,and let not the dread of You make me afraid.
22 Then call, and I will answer;or let me speak, and You answer me.
23 How many are my iniquities and sins?Make known to me my transgression and my sin.
24 Why do You hide Your faceand regard me as Your enemy?
25 Will You frighten a leaf driven to and fro?And will You pursue dry stubble?
26 For You write bitter things against meand make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.
27 You put my feet in the stocksand watch closely all my paths;You draw a line around the soles of my feet.
28 “Man, as a rotten thing, decays,as a garment that is moth eaten.