But as for me, I would make my prayer to God, and I would put my cause before him:

For then its weight would be more than the sand of the seas: because of this my words have been uncontrolled.

If only I might have an answer to my prayer, and God would give me my desire!

If only he would be pleased to put an end to me; and would let loose his hand, so that I might be cut off!

So I would still have comfort, and I would have joy in the pains of death, for I have not been false to the words of the Holy One.

Truly, you are such as would give up the child of a dead man to his creditors, and would make a profit out of your friend.

I have no desire for life, I would not be living for ever! Keep away from me, for my days are as a breath.

If a man was desiring to go to law with him, he would not be able to give him an answer to one out of a thousand questions.

Even if my cause was good, I would not be able to give an answer; I would make request for grace from him who was against me.

If I had sent for him to be present, and he had come, I would have no faith that he would give ear to my voice.

For I would be crushed by his storm, my wounds would be increased without cause.

He would not let me take my breath, but I would be full of bitter grief.

Though I was in the right, he would say that I was in the wrong; I have done no evil; but he says that I am a sinner.

Then I would say what is in my mind without fear of him; for there is no cause of fear in myself.

That, if I did wrong, you would take note of it, and would not make me clear from sin:

That, if I was an evil-doer, the curse would come on me; and if I was upright, my head would not be lifted up, being full of shame and overcome with trouble.

And that if there was cause for pride, you would go after me like a lion; and again put out your wonders against me:

That you would send new witnesses against me, increasing your wrath against me, and letting loose new armies on me.

Why then did you make me come out of my mother's body? It would have been better for me to have taken my last breath, and for no eye to have seen me,

But if only God would take up the word, opening his lips in argument with you;

And would make clear to you the secrets of wisdom, and the wonders of his purpose!

But I would have talk with the Ruler of all, and my desire is to have an argument with God.

If only you would keep quiet, it would be a sign of wisdom!

And that will be my salvation, for an evil-doer would not come before him,

Is any one able to take up the argument against me? If so, I would keep quiet and give up my breath.

If only you would keep me safe in the underworld, putting me in a secret place till your wrath is past, giving me a fixed time when I might come to your memory again!

If death takes a man, will he come to life again? All the days of my trouble I would be waiting, till the time came for me to be free.

At the sound of your voice I would give an answer, and you would have a desire for the work of your hands.

It would not be hard for me to say such things if your souls were in my soul's place; joining words together against you, and shaking my head at you:

I would put my cause in order before him, and my mouth would be full of arguments

I would see what his answers would be, and have knowledge of what he would say to me.

Would he make use of his great power to overcome me? No, but he would give attention to me.

There an upright man might put his cause before him; and I would be free for ever from my judge.

But now those who are younger than I make sport of me; those whose fathers I would not have put with the dogs of my flocks.

For that would be a crime; it would be an act for which punishment would be measured out by the judges:

It would be a fire burning even to destruction, and taking away all my produce.

That would have been another sin to be rewarded with punishment by the judges; for I would have been false to God on high.

If only God would give ear to me, and the Ruler of all would give me an answer! or if what he has against me had been put in writing!

Truly I would take up the book in my hands; it would be to me as a crown;

I would make clear the number of my steps, I would put it before him like a prince! The words of Job are ended.

For I am not able to give names of honour to any man; and if I did, my Maker would quickly take me away.

All flesh would come to an end together, and man would go back to the dust.