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

“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 less than you.

What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you.

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

But 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 you forgers of lies, You are all worthless physicians.

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

Oh, that you would be silent, And it would be your wisdom!

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

Now hear my reasoning, And heed the pleadings of my lips.

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

Will you speak wickedly for God, And talk deceitfully for Him?

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

Will you show partiality for Him? Will you 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?

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

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

He will surely rebuke you If you secretly show partiality.

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

Will not His excellence make you afraid, And the dread of Him fall upon you?

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

Your platitudes are proverbs of ashes, Your defenses are defenses of clay.

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

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

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

Why do I take my flesh in my teeth, And put my life in my hands?

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 Him. Even so, I will defend my 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 a hypocrite could not come before Him.

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

Listen carefully to my speech, And to my declaration with your ears.

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

See now, I have prepared my case, I know that I shall be vindicated.

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

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

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

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

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

Withdraw 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, and You answer me.

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

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

How many are my iniquities and sins? Make me know my transgression and my sin.

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

Why do You hide Your face, And regard me as Your 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?

Will You frighten a leaf driven to and fro? And will You pursue dry stubble?

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

For You write bitter things against me, And make me inherit 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.

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

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

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