Lo, mine eye
hath seen
all this, mine ear
hath heard
and understood
it.
What ye know,
the same do I know
also: I am not inferior
unto you.
Surely
I would speak
to the Almighty,
and I desire
to reason
with God.
But
ye are forgers
of lies,
ye are all physicians
of no value.
O that
ye would altogether
hold your peace!
and it should be your wisdom.
Hear
now my reasoning,
and hearken
to the pleadings
of my lips.
Will ye speak
wickedly
for God?
and talk
deceitfully
for him?
Will ye accept
his person?
will ye contend
for God?
Is it good
that he should search you out?
or as one man
mocketh
another, do ye so mock
him?
He will surely
reprove
you, if ye do secretly
accept
persons.
Shall not his excellency
make you afraid?
and his dread
fall
upon you?
Your remembrances
are like
unto ashes,
your bodies
to bodies
of clay.
Hold your peace,
let me alone, that I may speak,
and let come
on me what will.
Wherefore do I take
my flesh
in my teeth,
and put
my life
in mine hand?
Though
he slay
me, yet will I trust
in him: but I will maintain
mine own ways
before
him.
He also shall be my salvation:
for an hypocrite
shall not come
before
him.
Hear
diligently
my speech,
and my declaration
with your ears.
Behold now, I have ordered
my cause;
I know
that I shall be justified.
Who is he that will plead
with me? for now, if I hold my tongue,
I shall give up the ghost.
Only do
not two
things unto me: then will I not hide
myself from thee.
Withdraw
thine hand
far
from me: and let not thy dread
make me afraid.
Then call
thou, and I will answer:
or let me speak,
and answer
thou me.
How many are mine iniquities
and sins?
make me to know
my transgression
and my sin.
Wherefore hidest
thou thy face,
and holdest
me for thine enemy?
Wilt thou break
a leaf
driven to and fro?
and wilt thou pursue
the dry
stubble?
For thou writest
bitter things
against me, and makest me to possess
the iniquities
of my youth.
Thou puttest
my feet
also in the stocks,
and lookest narrowly
unto all my paths;
thou settest a print
upon the heels
of my feet.
And he, as a rotten thing,
consumeth,
as a garment
that is moth
eaten.
