1: Lo, mine eye hath seen all [this], mine ear hath heard and understood it. 2: What ye know, I know also: I am not inferior to you. 3: But I will speak to the Almighty, and will find pleasure in reasoning with God; 4: For ye indeed are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value. 5: Oh that ye would be altogether silent! and it would be your wisdom. 6: Hear now my defence, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips. 7: Will ye speak unrighteously for God? and for him speak deceit? 8: Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God? 9: Will it be well if he should search you out? or as one mocketh at a man, will ye mock at him? 10: He will certainly reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons. 11: Shall not his excellency terrify you? and his dread fall upon you? 12: Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes, your bulwarks are bulwarks of mire. 13: Hold your peace from me, and I will speak, and let come on me what [will]! 14: Wherefore should I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand? 15: Behold, if he slay me, yet would I trust in him; but I will defend mine own ways before him. 16: This also shall be my salvation, that a profane man shall not come before his face. 17: Hear attentively my speech and my declaration with your ears. 18: Behold now, I have ordered the cause; I know that I shall be justified. 19: Who is he that contendeth with me? For if I were silent now, I should expire. 20: Only do not two things unto me; then will I not hide myself from thee. 21: Withdraw thy hand far from me; and let not thy terror make me afraid: 22: Then call, and I will answer; or I will speak, and answer thou me. 23: How many are mine iniquities and sins? Make me to know my transgression and my sin. 24: Wherefore dost thou hide thy face, and countest me for thine enemy? 25: Wilt thou terrify a driven leaf? and wilt thou pursue dry stubble? 26: For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth; 27: And thou puttest my feet in the stocks, and markest all my paths; thou settest a bound about the soles of my feet; -- 28: One who, as a rotten thing consumeth, as a garment that the moth eateth.