“Even though He kills me;
I will hope in Him.
Nevertheless, I will argue my ways to His face.

“Why should I take my flesh in my teeth
And put my life in my hands [incurring the wrath of God]?

“This also will be my salvation,
For a godless man may not come before Him.

“Behold now, I have prepared my case;
I know that I will be vindicated.

“Listen diligently to my speech,
And let my declaration fill your ears.

“How many are my iniquities and sins [that so much sorrow should come to me]?
Make me recognize and understand my transgression and my sin.

Withdraw Your hand from me and remove this bodily suffering,
And let not the dread of You terrify me.

“Only [O Lord,] do not do two things to me,
And then I will not hide myself from Your face:

“Who will argue and contend with me?
For then I would be silent and die.

“Then [Lord,] call, and I will answer;
Or let me speak, and then reply to me.

“For You write bitter things against me [in Your indictment]
And make me inherit and suffer for the iniquities of my youth.

While I waste away like a rotten thing,
Like a garment that is moth-eaten.

“Will You cause a windblown leaf to tremble?
Will You pursue the chaff of the dry stubble?

“You also put my feet in the stocks [as punishment]
And [critically] observe all my paths;
You set a circle and limit around the soles of my feet [which I must not overstep],

“Why do You hide Your face [as if offended]
And consider me Your enemy?

“But you smear me with lies [you defame my character most untruthfully];
You are all worthless physicians and have no remedy to offer.

[Job continued:] “Behold, my eye has seen all this,
My ear has heard and understood it.

“Will you speak what is unjust for God,
And speak what is deceitful for Him?

“Will it be well for you when He investigates you [and your tactics against me]?
Or will you deceive Him as one deceives a man?

“But I wish to speak to the Almighty,
And I desire to argue with God.

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

“Oh, that you would be completely silent,
And that silence would be your wisdom!

“Be silent before me so that I may speak;
And let happen to me what may.

“Will you show partiality for Him [and be unjust to me so that you may gain favor with Him]?
Will you contend and plead for God?

“He will surely reprimand you
If you secretly show partiality.

“Your memorable sayings are [worthless, merely] proverbs of ashes;
Your defenses are defenses of [crumbling] clay.

“Please hear my argument
And listen to the pleadings of my lips.

“Will not His majesty terrify you,
And will not the dread of Him fall upon you?