1“Look, my eye has seen it all, my ear has heard and understood it.

2What you know, I know too; I am not less than you.

3But I would speak to the Almighty, and I delight to reason with Ěl.

4But you smear with falsehood, worthless healers, all of you!

5If you would only be silent, then it would be your wisdom!

6Please hear my reasoning, and listen to the pleadings of my lips.

7Would you speak perversely for Ěl, and speak deceit for Him?

8Would you be partial towards Him? Would you plead for Ěl?

9Would it be well when He searches you out? Or could you deceive Him as one deceives a man?

10He would certainly reprove you if you secretly show partiality.

11Should not His excellence make you afraid, and the dread of Him fall upon you?

12Your weighty sayings are proverbs of ashes, your shields are shields of clay.

13Be silent before me, and let me speak, and let whatever come upon me!

14Why do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hands?

15Though, He does slay me – I wait! But I show my ways to be right before Him.

16He also is my deliverance, for a defiled one does not come before Him.

17Listen closely to my words, and with your ears to what I say.

18Look, please, I have prepared my case, I know that I am in the right.

19Who is he who would strive with me? For then I would keep silent and die.

20Only two matters do not do to me, then I am not hidden from Your face:

21Withdraw Your hand far from me, and let not dread of You make me afraid.

22Then call, and let me answer; or let me speak, and You reply to me.

23How many are my crookednesses and sins? Let me know my transgression and my sin.

24Why do You hide Your face, and reckon me as Your enemy?

25Would You frighten a leaf driven to and fro? And would You pursue dry stubble?

26For You write bitter charges against me, and make me inherit the crookednesses of my youth,

27and put my feet in the stocks, and look closely to all my paths. You set a limit for the soles of my feet.

28And he, like that which is rotten, wastes away, as a garment that is moth-eaten.