1“Behold, my eye has seen all this,
my ear has heard and understood it.
2What you know, I also know;
I am not inferior to you.
3But I would speak to the Almighty,
and I desire to argue my case with God.
4As for you, you whitewash with lies;
worthless physicians are you all.
5Oh that you would keep silent,
and it would be your wisdom!
6Hear now my argument
and listen to the pleadings of my lips.
7Will you speak falsely for God
and speak deceitfully for him?
8Will you show partiality toward him?
Will you plead the case for God?
9Will it be well with you when he searches you out?
Or can you deceive him, as one deceives a man?
10He will surely rebuke you
if in secret you show partiality.
11Will not his majesty terrify you,
and the dread of him fall upon you?
12Your 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.
14Why should I take my flesh in my teeth
and put my life in my hand?
15Though he slay me, I will hope in him;^a
yet I will argue my ways to his face.
16This will be my salvation,
that the godless shall not come before him.
17Keep listening to my words,
and let my declaration be in your ears.
18Behold, I have prepared my case;
I know that I shall be in the right.
19Who is there who will contend with me?
For then I would be silent and die.
20Only grant me two things,
then I will not hide myself from your face:
21withdraw your hand far from me,
and let not dread of you terrify me.
22Then call, and I will answer;
or let me speak, and you reply to me.
23How many are my iniquities and my sins?
Make me know my transgression and my sin.
24Why do you hide your face
and count me as your enemy?
25Will you frighten a driven leaf
and pursue dry chaff?
26For you write bitter things against me
and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.
27You put my feet in the stocks
and watch all my paths;
you set a limit for^b the soles of my feet.
28Man^c wastes away like a rotten thing,
like a garment that is moth-eaten.