“I am accounted wicked and held guilty;
Why then should I labor in vain [to appear innocent]?

You would still plunge me into the pit,
And my own clothes would hate me [and refuse to cover my foul body].

“All the men of my council hate me;
Those I love have turned against me.

“They hate me, they stand aloof from me,
And do not refrain from spitting in my face.

“For He sets no appointed time for a man,
That he should appear before Him in judgment.

“Will you really annul My judgment and set it aside as void?
Will you condemn Me [your God] that you may [appear to] be righteous and justified?

“Therefore I retract [my words and hate myself]
And I repent in dust and ashes.”