³ "Surely I would speak to the Almighty. I desire to reason with God.

²¹ Produce your cause, says Yahweh; bring forth your strong reasons, says the King of Jacob.

³⁵ Oh that I had one to hear me! (Behold, here is my signature, let the Almighty answer me); Let the accuser write my indictment!

²² Then call, and I will answer; Or let me speak, and you answer me.

³ If he is pleased to contend with him, He can't answer him one time in a thousand.

² Hear, you mountains, Yahweh's controversy, And you enduring foundations of the earth; For Yahweh has a controversy with his people, And he will contend with Israel.

¹ Righteous are you, Yahweh, when I contend with you; yet would I reason the cause with you: why does the way of the wicked prosper? why are all they at ease who deal very treacherously?

² You have planted them, yes, they have taken root; they grow, yes, they bring forth fruit: you are near in their mouth, and far from their heart.

¹⁸ "Come now, and let us reason together," says Yahweh: "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

¹⁹ If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land;

²⁰ But if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured with the sword; For the mouth of Yahweh has spoken it."

³ Oh that I knew where I might find him! That I might come even to his seat!

⁴ I would set my cause in order before him, And fill my mouth with arguments.

⁵ I would know the words which he would answer me, And understand what he would tell me.

⁶ Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No, but he would listen to me.

⁷ There the upright might reason with him, So I should be delivered forever from my judge.

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

⁵ But oh that God would speak, And open his lips against you,

³⁴ Let him take his rod away from me, Let his terror not make me afraid:

³⁵ Then I would speak, and not fear him, For I am not so in myself.

¹⁴ How much less shall I answer him, Choose my words to argue with him?

¹⁵ Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer. I would make supplication to my judge.