1 L o, all -- hath mine eye seen, Heard hath mine ear, and it attendeth to it.

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

2 A ccording to your knowledge I have known -- also I. I am not fallen more than you.

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

3 Y et I for the Mighty One do speak, And to argue for God I delight.

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

4 A nd yet, ye forgers of falsehood, Physicians of nought -- all of you,

But ye are forgers of lies; Ye are all physicians of no value.

5 O that ye would keep perfectly silent, And it would be to you for wisdom.

Oh that ye would altogether hold your peace! And it would be your wisdom.

6 H ear, I pray you, my argument, And to the pleadings of my lips attend,

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

7 F or God do ye speak perverseness? And for Him do ye speak deceit?

Will ye speak unrighteously for God, And talk deceitfully for him?

8 H is face do ye accept, if for God ye strive?

Will ye show partiality to him? Will ye contend for God?

9 I s good that He doth search you, If, as one mocketh at a man, ye mock at Him?

Is it good that he should search you out? Or as one deceiveth a man, will ye deceive him?

10 H e doth surely reprove you, if in secret ye accept faces.

He will surely reprove you If ye do secretly show partiality.

11 D oth not His excellency terrify you? And His dread fall upon you?

Shall not his majesty make you afraid, And his dread fall upon you?

12 Y our remembrances similes of ashes, For high places of clay your heights.

Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes, Your defences are defences of clay.

13 K eep silent from me, and I speak, And pass over me doth what?

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

14 W herefore do I take my flesh in my teeth? And my soul put in my hand?

Wherefore should I take my flesh in my teeth, And put my life in my hand?

15 L o, He doth slay me -- I wait not! Only, my ways unto His face I argue.

Behold, he will slay me; I have no hope: Nevertheless I will maintain my ways before him.

16 A lso -- He to me for salvation, For the profane cometh not before Him.

This also shall be my salvation, That a godless man shall not come before him.

17 H ear ye diligently my word, And my declaration with your ears.

Hear diligently my speech, And let my declaration be in your ears.

18 L o, I pray you, I have set in order the cause, I have known that I am righteous.

Behold now, I have set my cause in order; I know that I am righteous.

19 W ho he that doth strive with me? For now I keep silent and gasp.

Who is he that will contend with me? For then would I hold my peace and give up the ghost.

20 O nly two things, O God, do with me: Then from Thy face I am not hidden.

Only do not two things unto me; Then will I not hide myself from thy face:

21 T hy hand put far off from me, And Thy terror let not terrify me.

Withdraw thy hand far from me; And let not thy terror make me afraid.

22 A nd call Thou, and I -- I answer, Or -- I speak, and answer Thou me.

Then call thou, and I will answer; Or let me speak, and answer thou me.

23 H ow many iniquities and sins have I? My transgression and my sin let me know.

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

24 W hy dost Thou hide Thy face? And reckonest me for an enemy to Thee?

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

25 A leaf driven away dost Thou terrify? And the dry stubble dost Thou pursue?

Wilt thou harass a driven leaf? And wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?

26 F or Thou writest against me bitter things, And causest me to possess iniquities of my youth:

For thou writest bitter things against me, And makest me to inherit the iniquities of my youth:

27 A nd puttest in the stocks my feet, And observest all my paths, On the roots of my feet Thou settest a print,

Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, And markest all my paths; Thou settest a bound to the soles of my feet:

28 A nd he, as a rotten thing, weareth away, As a garment hath a moth consumed him.

Though I am like a rotten thing that consumeth, Like a garment that is moth-eaten.