13
1 “Behold, my eye has
seen all this.
My ear has
heard and
understood it.
2 What
you know, I
know also.
I am not inferior
to you.
3 “Surely I
would speak to
the Almighty.
I desire to
reason with God.
4 But
you are forgers
of lies.
You are all
physicians of
no value.
5 Oh
that you would
be completely
silent!
Then you would
be wise.
6 Hear
now my reasoning.
Listen to the
pleadings of my
lips.
7 Will you
speak unrighteously
for God,
and talk
deceitfully for
him?
8 Will
you show
partiality to him?
Will you contend
for God?
9 Is
it good that
he should search
you out?
Or as one
deceives a man,
will you deceive
him?
10 He
will surely
reprove you
if you secretly
show partiality.
11 Won’t his
majesty make you
afraid
and his dread
fall on you?
12 Your
memorable sayings
are proverbs
of ashes.
Your defenses are
defenses of clay.
13 “Be
silent!
Leave me alone,
that I may
speak.
Let come on me
what will.
14 Why
should I take
my flesh in
my teeth,
and put my
life in my
hand?
15 Behold,
he will kill me.
I have no
hope.
Nevertheless, I will
maintain my ways
before him.
16 This
also will be
my salvation,
that a godless
man will not come
before him.
17 Listen
carefully to my
speech.
Let my declaration be in
your ears.
18 See
now, I have
set my cause
in order.
I know that
I am righteous.
19 Who
is he who
will contend with
me?
For then would
I hold my peace
and give up the spirit.
20 “Only don’t
do two things
to me,
then I will
not hide myself
from your face:
21 withdraw
your hand far
from me,
and don’t let your terror make
me afraid.
22 Then
call, and I
will answer,
or let me
speak, and you
answer me.
23 How
many are my
iniquities and
sins?
Make me know
my disobedience and
my sin.
24 Why
do you hide
your face,
and consider me
your enemy?
25 Will
you harass a
driven leaf?
Will you pursue
the dry stubble?
26 For
you write bitter
things against me,
and make me
inherit the
iniquities of my
youth.
27 You also
put my feet
in the stocks,
and mark all
my paths.
You set a bound
to the soles
of my feet,
28 though I am
decaying like a
rotten thing,
like a garment
that is moth-eaten.