[1] See, my eye has seen all this, my ear has heard and understood it.
[2] What you know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior to you.
[3] Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.
[4] But you are forgers of lies, you are all physicians of no value.
[5] O that you would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.
[6] Hear now my reasoning, and listen to the pleadings of my lips.
[7] Will you speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?
[8] Will you accept his person? will you contend for God?
[9] Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocks another, do you so mock him?
[10] He will surely reprove you, if you do secretly accept persons.
[11] Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall on you?
[12] Your remembrances are like to ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.
[13] Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.
[14] Why do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand?
[15] Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain my own ways before him.
[16] He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.
[17] Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.
[18] Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.
[19] Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.
[20] Only do not two things to me: then will I not hide myself from you.
[21] Withdraw your hand far from me: and let not your dread make me afraid.
[22] Then call you, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer you me.
[23] How many are my iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin.
[24] Why hide you your face, and hold me for your enemy?
[25] Will you break a leaf driven to and fro? and will you pursue the dry stubble?
[26] For you write bitter things against me, and make me to possess the iniquities of my youth.
[27] You put my feet also in the stocks, and look narrowly to all my paths; you set a print on the heels of my feet.
[28] And he, as a rotten thing, consumes, as a garment that is moth eaten.