1 “Look, my eye has seen it all, my ear has heard and understood it.
2 What you know, I know too; I am not less than you.
3 But I would speak to the Almighty, and I delight to reason with Ěl.
4 But you smear with falsehood, worthless healers, all of you!
5 If you would only be silent, then it would be your wisdom!
6 Please hear my reasoning, and listen to the pleadings of my lips.
7 Would you speak perversely for Ěl, and speak deceit for Him?
8 Would you be partial towards Him? Would you plead for Ěl?
9 Would it be well when He searches you out? Or could you deceive Him as one deceives a man?
10 He would certainly reprove you if you secretly show partiality.
11 Should not His excellence make you afraid, and the dread of Him fall upon you?
12 Your weighty sayings are proverbs of ashes, your shields are shields of clay.
13 Be silent before me, and let me speak, and let whatever come upon me!
14 Why do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hands?
15 Though, He does slay me – I wait! But I show my ways to be right before Him.
16 He also is my deliverance, for a defiled one does not come before Him.
17 Listen closely to my words, and with your ears to what I say.
18 Look, please, I have prepared my case, I know that I am in the right.
19 Who is he who would strive with me? For then I would keep silent and die.
20 Only two matters do not do to me, then I am not hidden from Your face:
21 Withdraw Your hand far from me, and let not dread of You make me afraid.
22 Then call, and let me answer; or let me speak, and You reply to me.
23 How many are my crookednesses and sins? Let me know my transgression and my sin.
24 Why do You hide Your face, and reckon me as Your enemy?
25 Would You frighten a leaf driven to and fro? And would You pursue dry stubble?
26 For You write bitter charges against me, and make me inherit the crookednesses of my youth,
27 and put my feet in the stocks, and look closely to all my paths. You set a limit for the soles of my feet.
28 And he, like that which is rotten, wastes away, as a garment that is moth-eaten.