1 L o, mine eye hath seen all, mine ear hath heard and understood it.

2 W hat ye know, I know also: I am not inferior to you.

3 B ut I will speak to the Almighty, and will find pleasure in reasoning with God;

4 F or ye indeed are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.

5 O h that ye would be altogether silent! and it would be your wisdom.

6 H ear now my defence, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.

7 W ill ye speak unrighteously for God? and for him speak deceit?

8 W ill ye accept his person? will ye contend for God?

9 W ill it be well if he should search you out? or as one mocketh at a man, will ye mock at him?

10 H e will certainly reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.

11 S hall not his excellency terrify you? and his dread fall upon you?

12 Y our memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes, your bulwarks are bulwarks of mire.

13 H old your peace from me, and I will speak, and let come on me what!

14 W herefore should I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand?

15 B ehold, if he slay me, yet would I trust in him; but I will defend mine own ways before him.

16 T his also shall be my salvation, that a profane man shall not come before his face.

17 H ear attentively my speech and my declaration with your ears.

18 B ehold now, I have ordered the cause; I know that I shall be justified.

19 W ho is he that contendeth with me? For if I were silent now, I should expire.

20 O nly do not two things unto me; then will I not hide myself from thee.

21 W ithdraw thy hand far from me; and let not thy terror make me afraid:

22 T hen call, and I will answer; or I will speak, and answer thou me.

23 H ow many are mine iniquities and sins? Make me to know my transgression and my sin.

24 W herefore dost thou hide thy face, and countest me for thine enemy?

25 W ilt thou terrify a driven leaf? and wilt thou pursue dry stubble?

26 F or thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth;

27 A nd thou puttest my feet in the stocks, and markest all my paths; thou settest a bound about the soles of my feet;—

28 O ne who, as a rotten thing consumeth, as a garment that the moth eateth.