^{1 Ref} Lo, mine eye hath seen all `this', Mine ear hath heard and understood it.

^{2 Ref} What ye know, `the same' do I know also: I am not inferior unto you.

^{3 Ref} Surely I would speak to the Almighty, And I desire to reason with God.

^{4 Ref} But ye are forgers of lies; Ye are all physicians of no value.

^{5 Ref} Oh that ye would altogether hold your peace! And it would be your wisdom.

^{6 Ref} Hear now my reasoning, And hearken to the pleadings of my lips.

^{7 Ref} Will ye speak unrighteously for God, And talk deceitfully for him?

^{8 Ref} Will ye show partiality to him? Will ye contend for God?

^{9 Ref} Is it good that he should search you out? Or as one deceiveth a man, will ye deceive him?

^{10 Ref} He will surely reprove you If ye do secretly show partiality.

^{11 Ref} Shall not his majesty make you afraid, And his dread fall upon you?

^{12 Ref} Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes, Your defences are defences of clay.

^{13 Ref} Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak; And let come on me what will.

^{14 Ref} Wherefore should I take my flesh in my teeth, And put my life in my hand?

^{15 Ref} Behold, he will slay me; I have no hope: Nevertheless I will maintain my ways before him.

^{16 Ref} This also shall be my salvation, That a godless man shall not come before him.

^{17 Ref} Hear diligently my speech, And let my declaration be in your ears.

^{18 Ref} Behold now, I have set my cause in order; I know that I am righteous.

^{19 Ref} Who is he that will contend with me? For then would I hold my peace and give up the ghost.

^{20 Ref} Only do not two things unto me; Then will I not hide myself from thy face:

^{21 Ref} Withdraw thy hand far from me; And let not thy terror make me afraid.

^{22 Ref} Then call thou, and I will answer; Or let me speak, and answer thou me.

^{23 Ref} How many are mine iniquities and sins? Make me to know my transgression and my sin.

^{24 Ref} Wherefore hidest thou thy face, And holdest me for thine enemy?

^{25 Ref} Wilt thou harass a driven leaf? And wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?

^{26 Ref} For thou writest bitter things against me, And makest me to inherit the iniquities of my youth:

^{27 Ref} Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, And markest all my paths; Thou settest a bound to the soles of my feet:

^{28 Ref} Though I am like a rotten thing that consumeth, Like a garment that is moth-eaten.

^{1 Ref} "Behold, my eye has seen all this, My ear has heard and understood it.

^{2 Ref} What you know, I know also. I am not inferior to you.

^{3 Ref} "Surely I would speak to the Almighty. I desire to reason with God.

^{4 Ref} But you are forgers of lies. You are all physicians of no value.

^{5 Ref} Oh that you would be completely silent! Then you would be wise.

^{6 Ref} Hear now my reasoning. Listen to the pleadings of my lips.

^{7 Ref} Will you speak unrighteously for God, And talk deceitfully for him?

^{8 Ref} Will you show partiality to him? Will you contend for God?

^{9 Ref} Is it good that he should search you out? Or as one deceives a man, will you deceive him?

^{10 Ref} He will surely reprove you If you secretly show partiality.

^{11 Ref} Shall not his majesty make you afraid, And his dread fall on you?

^{12 Ref} Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes, Your defenses are defenses of clay.

^{13 Ref} "Be silent, leave me alone, that I may speak. Let come on me what will.

^{14 Ref} Why should I take my flesh in my teeth, And put my life in my hand?

^{15 Ref} Behold, he will kill me; I have no hope. Nevertheless, I will maintain my ways before him.

^{16 Ref} This also shall be my salvation, That a godless man shall not come before him.

^{17 Ref} Hear diligently my speech. Let my declaration be in your ears.

^{18 Ref} See now, I have set my cause in order. I know that I am righteous.

^{19 Ref} Who is he who will contend with me? For then would I hold my peace and give up the spirit.

^{20 Ref} "Only don't do two things to me; Then I will not hide myself from your face:

^{21 Ref} Withdraw your hand far from me; And don't let your terror make me afraid.

^{22 Ref} Then call, and I will answer; Or let me speak, and you answer me.

^{23 Ref} How many are my iniquities and sins? Make me know my disobedience and my sin.

^{24 Ref} Why hide you your face, And hold me for your enemy?

^{25 Ref} Will you harass a driven leaf? Will you pursue the dry stubble?

^{26 Ref} For you write bitter things against me, And make me inherit the iniquities of my youth:

^{27 Ref} You also put my feet in the stocks, And mark all my paths. You set a bound to the soles of my feet:

^{28 Ref} Though I am decaying like a rotten thing, Like a garment that is moth-eaten.