[1] LO, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it.
[2] What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you.
[3] Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.
[4] But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.
[5] O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.
[6] Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.
[7] Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?
[8] Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God?
[9] Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him?
[10] He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.
[11] Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you?
[12] Your remembrances are like unto 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] Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?
[15] Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine 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 unto me: then will I not hide myself from thee.
[21] Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid.
[22] Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me.
[23] How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin.
[24] Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy?
[25] Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?
[26] For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth.
[27] 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] And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth eaten.
