^{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} Lo, all -- hath mine eye seen, Heard hath mine ear, and it attendeth to it.

^{2 Ref} According to your knowledge I have known -- also I. I am not fallen more than you.

^{3 Ref} Yet I for the Mighty One do speak, And to argue for God I delight.

^{4 Ref} And yet, ye `are' forgers of falsehood, Physicians of nought -- all of you,

^{5 Ref} O that ye would keep perfectly silent, And it would be to you for wisdom.

^{6 Ref} Hear, I pray you, my argument, And to the pleadings of my lips attend,

^{7 Ref} For God do ye speak perverseness? And for Him do ye speak deceit?

^{8 Ref} His face do ye accept, if for God ye strive?

^{9 Ref} Is `it' good that He doth search you, If, as one mocketh at a man, ye mock at Him?

^{10 Ref} He doth surely reprove you, if in secret ye accept faces.

^{11 Ref} Doth not His excellency terrify you? And His dread fall upon you?

^{12 Ref} Your remembrances `are' similes of ashes, For high places of clay your heights.

^{13 Ref} Keep silent from me, and I speak, And pass over me doth what?

^{14 Ref} Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth? And my soul put in my hand?

^{15 Ref} Lo, He doth slay me -- I wait not! Only, my ways unto His face I argue.

^{16 Ref} Also -- He `is' to me for salvation, For the profane cometh not before Him.

^{17 Ref} Hear ye diligently my word, And my declaration with your ears.

^{18 Ref} Lo, I pray you, I have set in order the cause, I have known that I am righteous.

^{19 Ref} Who `is' he that doth strive with me? For now I keep silent and gasp.

^{20 Ref} Only two things, O God, do with me: Then from Thy face I am not hidden.

^{21 Ref} Thy hand put far off from me, And Thy terror let not terrify me.

^{22 Ref} And call Thou, and I -- I answer, Or -- I speak, and answer Thou me.

^{23 Ref} How many iniquities and sins have I? My transgression and my sin let me know.

^{24 Ref} Why dost Thou hide Thy face? And reckonest me for an enemy to Thee?

^{25 Ref} A leaf driven away dost Thou terrify? And the dry stubble dost Thou pursue?

^{26 Ref} For Thou writest against me bitter things, And causest me to possess iniquities of my youth:

^{27 Ref} And puttest in the stocks my feet, And observest all my paths, On the roots of my feet Thou settest a print,

^{28 Ref} And he, as a rotten thing, weareth away, As a garment hath a moth consumed him.