¹ “Behold, my eye has seen all this,
My ear has heard and understood it. ² “What you know I also know;
I am not inferior to you. ³ “But I would speak to the Almighty,
And I desire to argue with God. ⁴ “But you smear with lies;
You are all worthless physicians. ⁵ “O that you would be completely silent,
And that it would become your wisdom! ⁶ “Please hear my argument
And listen to the contentions of my lips. ⁷ “Will you speak what is unjust for God,
And speak what is deceitful for Him? ⁸ “Will you show partiality for Him?
Will you contend for God? ⁹ “Will it be well when He examines you?
Or will you deceive Him as one deceives a man? ¹⁰ “He will surely reprove you
If you secretly show partiality. ¹¹ “Will not His majesty terrify you,
And the dread of Him fall on you? ¹² “Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes,
Your defenses are defenses of clay. Job Is Sure He Will Be Vindicated ¹³ “Be silent before me so that I may speak;
Then let come on me what may. ¹⁴ “Why should I take my flesh in my teeth
And put my life in my hands? ¹⁵ “Though He slay me,
I will hope in Him.
Nevertheless I will argue my ways before Him. ¹⁶ “This also will be my salvation,
For a godless man may not come before His presence. ¹⁷ “Listen carefully to my speech,
And let my declaration fill your ears. ¹⁸ “Behold now, I have prepared my case;
I know that I will be vindicated. ¹⁹ “Who will contend with me?
For then I would be silent and die. ²⁰ “Only two things do not do to me,
Then I will not hide from Your face: ²¹ Remove Your hand from me,
And let not the dread of You terrify me. ²² “Then call, and I will answer;
Or let me speak, then reply to me. ²³ “How many are my iniquities and sins?
Make known to me my rebellion and my sin. ²⁴ “Why do You hide Your face
And consider me Your enemy? ²⁵ “Will You cause a driven leaf to tremble?
Or will You pursue the dry chaff? ²⁶ “For You write bitter things against me
And make me to inherit the iniquities of my youth. ²⁷ “You put my feet in the stocks
And watch all my paths;
You set a limit for the soles of my feet, ²⁸ While I am decaying like a rotten thing,
Like a garment that is moth-eaten.