1
Behold, my eye has seen all this,
my ear has heard and understood it.
2 c[ch. 12:3; 15:9] What you know, I also know;
I am not inferior to you.
3 dch. 23:4; 31:35 But I would speak to the Almighty,
and I desire toe[ver. 15, 18] argue my case with God.
4 As for you,fPs. 119:69 you whitewash with lies;
g[ch. 16:2] worthless physicians are you all.
5 Oh that you wouldhProv. 17:28 keep silent,
and it would be your wisdom!
6 Hear now my argument
and listen to the pleadings of my lips.
7 Will youich. 27:4 speak falsely for God
and speakich. 27:4 deceitfully for him?
8 Will you show partiality toward him?
Will youj[Judg. 6:31] plead the case for God?
9 Will it be well with you when hekProv. 28:11 searches you out?
OrlGal. 6:7 can you deceive him, as one deceives a man?
10 He will surely rebuke you
if in secret you show partiality.
11 Will not hismch. 31:23 majesty terrify you,
and the dread of him fall upon you?
12 Your maxims are proverbs ofnIsa. 44:20 ashes;
your defenses are defenses of clay.
13 Let me have silence, and I will speak,
and let come on me what may.
14 Why should I take my flesh in my teeth
andoSee Judg. 12:3 put my life in my hand?
15 p[Prov. 14:32] Though he slay me, I willqch. 14:14 hope in him;1Or Behold, he will slay me; I have no hope
yet I willr[ver. 3; ch. 27:5] argue my ways to his face.
16 This will be my salvation,
that the godless shall not come before him.
17 sch. 21:2 Keep listening to my words,
and let my declaration be in your ears.
18 Behold, I havetSee ch. 33:5 prepared my case;
I know that I shall be in the right.
19 uIsa. 50:8, 9 Who is there who will contend with me?
For then I would be silent and die.
20 Only grant me two things,
then I will notv[Gen. 3:8] hide myself from your face:
21 wch. 9:34; Ps. 39:10 withdraw your hand far from me,
and let notxch. 9:34; 33:7 dread of you terrify me.
22 ych. 14:15 Then call, and I will answer;
or let me speak, and you reply to me.
23 How many are my iniquities and my sins?
z[Ps. 19:12] Make me know my transgression and my sin.
24 WhyaDeut. 32:20 do you hide your face
andbch. 19:11; 33:10; [Lam. 2:5] count me as your enemy?
25 Will you frightencLev. 26:36 a driven leaf
and pursue drydch. 21:18; Ps. 83:13 chaff?
26 For youe[Ps. 149:9] write bitter things against me
and make me inheritfPs. 25:7 the iniquities of my youth.
27 You put my feet ing[ch. 33:11] the stocks
andhSee ch. 10:14 watch all my paths;
you set a limit for1Or you marked the soles of my feet.
28 Man wastes away likeiProv. 12:4; 14:30; Hab. 3:16 a rotten thing,
like a garment that isjch. 4:19 moth-eaten.