1 “ Behold, my eye has seen all this, My ear has heard and understood it.

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

3 B ut I would speak to the Almighty, And I desire to reason with God.

4 B ut you forgers of lies, You are all worthless physicians.

5 O h, that you would be silent, And it would be your wisdom!

6 N ow hear my reasoning, And heed the pleadings of my lips.

7 W ill you speak wickedly for God, And talk deceitfully for Him?

8 W ill you show partiality for Him? Will you contend for God?

9 W ill it be well when He searches you out? Or can you mock Him as one mocks a man?

10 H e will surely rebuke you If you secretly show partiality.

11 W ill not His excellence make you afraid, And the dread of Him fall upon you?

12 Y our platitudes are proverbs of ashes, Your defenses are defenses of clay.

13 “ Hold your peace with me, and let me speak, Then let come on me what may!

14 W hy do I take my flesh in my teeth, And put my life in my hands?

15 T hough He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.

16 H e also shall be my salvation, For a hypocrite could not come before Him.

17 L isten carefully to my speech, And to my declaration with your ears.

18 S ee now, I have prepared my case, I know that I shall be vindicated.

19 W ho is he who will contend with me? If now I hold my tongue, I perish. Job’s Despondent Prayer

20 “ Only two things do not do to me, Then I will not hide myself from You:

21 W ithdraw Your hand far from me, And let not the dread of You make me afraid.

22 T hen call, and I will answer; Or let me speak, then You respond to me.

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

24 W hy do You hide Your face, And regard me as Your enemy?

25 W ill You frighten a leaf driven to and fro? And will You pursue dry stubble?

26 F or You write bitter things against me, And make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.

27 Y ou put my feet in the stocks, And watch closely all my paths. You set a limit for the soles of my feet.

28 “ Man decays like a rotten thing, Like a garment that is moth-eaten.