¹Look, my eye has seen all of this; my ear has heard and discerned it.

²What you know, I know too; I am not falling below you.

³But I will speak to the Almighty, and I desire to argue with God.

⁴But you are smearers of falsehood, worthless healers all of you.

⁵Who would grant that you keep completely silent? Then it would become wisdom for you.

⁶Hear my argument, please, and give attention to the disputes of my lips.

⁷Will you speak injustice for God, and speak deceit for him?

⁸Will you lift up his face, or contend on behalf of God?

⁹Would it be good if he searches you out? Or as one mocks a person, will you mock him?

¹⁰He will surely rebuke you, if in secret you lift up faces.

¹¹Will not his exaltation terrify you, and dread of him fall upon you?

¹²Your memorials are proverbs of ashes; your bulwarks are bulwarks of clay.

¹³Be silent, away from me, and let me speak, I myself; and whatever may come, let it pass over me.

¹⁴Why would I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my being in my palm?

¹⁵Look, he may slay me; I will wait for him; only my ways I will argue to his face.

¹⁶This too will be deliverance for me, for the godless will not come before his face.

¹⁷Listen closely to my word, and let my declaration be in your ears.

¹⁸Look now, I have set justice in order; I know that I am in the right.

¹⁹Who is he that will contend with me? For if now I keep silent, I will breathe my last.

²⁰Only two things do not do to me; then I will not hide myself from your face.

²¹Put your palm far away from me, and let your dread not terrify me.

²²Call, and I will answer; or let me speak, and you give me back a reply.

²³How many are my iniquities and sins? Make known to me my transgression and my sin.

²⁴Why do you hide your face, and reckon me an enemy to you?

²⁵Will you make a driven leaf tremble, and pursue dry stubble?

²⁶For you write bitter things about me, and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.

²⁷You put my feet in the stocks and watch all my paths; you carve a mark about the roots of my feet.

²⁸And he wears out like rot, like a garment that the moth has eaten