1 "Look, my eye has seen everything; my ear has heard and has understood it.
2 {What you know}, I myself also know-- I [am] not more inferior than you.
3 But I would speak to Shaddai, and I desire to argue with God.
4 "But you {whitewash with lies}; all of you [are] {worthless healers}.
5 {O that} you would keep completely silent, and [that] it would become wisdom for you.
6 Please hear my argument, and listen attentively [to the] pleadings of my lips.
7 "Will you speak falsely for God? And will you speak deceitfully for him?
8 {Will you show partiality for him}? Or do you want to plead God's case?
9 [Will it be] well, if he examines you? Or can you deceive him like deceiving a human being?
10 "Surely he will rebuke you if {you show partiality} in secret.
11 Will not his majesty terrify you, and his dread fall upon you?
12 Your maxims [are] proverbs of ashes; your defenses [are] defenses of clay.
13 "{Let me have silence}, and I myself will speak, and let come over me whatever [may].
14 Why should I take my flesh in my teeth and put my life in my hand?
15 Look, [though] he kill me, I will hope in him; however, I will defend my ways {before him}.
16 Moreover, this [is] salvation to me, that [the] godless would not come {before him}.
17 "Listen carefully [to] my words, and [let] my exposition [be] in your ears.
18 Please look, I have prepared [my] case; I know that I myself will be vindicated.
19 Who [is] he who will contend with me? For {then} I would be silent, and I would pass away.
20 "Only you must not do [these] two [things] to me; then I will not hide from your face:
21 withdraw your hand from me, and let not your dread terrify me.
22 Then call, and I myself will answer; or let me speak, then reply to me.
23 "{How many} [are] my iniquities and sins? Make known to me my transgression and my sin.
24 Why do you hide your face and count me as your enemy?
25 Will you terrify a blown leaf? And will you pursue dry stubble?
26 "Indeed, you write bitter things against me, and you make me reap the iniquities of my childhood.
27 And you put my feet in the block, and you watch all my paths; you carve [a mark] on the soles of my feet.