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

Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it.

2 W hat you know I also know. I am not less than you.

What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you.

3 “ But I wish to speak to the All-powerful. I want to argue with God.

Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.

4 B ut you cover things with lies. You are doctors of no worth.

But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.

5 I f only you would be quiet, and that would show your wisdom!

O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.

6 H ear what I think. Listen to the arguing of my lips.

Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.

7 W ill you say what is not true for God? Will you lie for Him?

Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?

8 W ill you show favor for Him? Will you argue for God?

Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God?

9 W ill it be well when He tests you? Or do you lie to Him as one lies to a man?

Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him?

10 F or sure He will speak strong words to you if you show favor in secret.

He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.

11 W ill not His great power make you afraid? Will not the fear of Him come upon you?

Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you?

12 Y our wise sayings are sayings of ashes. Your strength is the strength of clay.

Your remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.

13 “ Be quiet so that I may speak. Then let come on me what will.

Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.

14 W hy should I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hands?

Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?

15 E ven though He would kill me, yet I will trust in Him. I will argue my ways to His face.

Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

16 T his will save me, for a sinful man may not come to Him.

He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.

17 B e careful to listen to my words. Let what I say fill your ears.

Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.

18 S ee, I am ready to tell everything, and all will know I am right.

Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.

19 W ho will talk against me? For then I would be quiet and die.

Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.

20 “ Only two things I ask of You, and then I will not hide from Your face.

Only do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from thee.

21 T ake Your hand from me, and do not let the fear of You make me so afraid.

Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid.

22 T hen call, and I will answer. Or let me speak, and You answer me.

Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me.

23 H ow many are my sins and wrong-doings? Help me to know my wrong-doing and sin.

How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin.

24 W hy do You hide Your face, and think of me as one who hates You?

Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy?

25 W ill You make a wind-blown leaf afraid? Will You go after the dry parts of a grain-field that have no worth?

Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?

26 F or You write bitter things against me. You punish me for the sins I did when I was young.

For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth.

27 Y ou put chains on my feet, and watch everything I do. You let me walk only so far.

Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet.

28 I am wasting away like a piece of dead wood, like clothing eaten by the moth.

And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth eaten.