Lo, my eye has seen all this, my ear has heard and understood it.

All of these things my eyes have seen and my ears have heard, and they have understood.

What you know, I know also: I am not inferior to you.

As well as you know, I know. I, too, am no less than you.

Yet, I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.

But I would speak with the Almighty and my desire is to dispute with the L rd.

But you are forgers of lies, you are all physicians of no value.

But you are compounders of falsehood; you are all healers of vanity.

O that you would altogether keep silent! and it should be your wisdom.

Would that you kept still so that you would be accounted wise!

Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.

Hear, now, my dispute, and give ear to the arguments of my lips.

Will you speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?

Will you speak wrong on behalf of G d? Will you speak deceit on His behalf?

Will you show him partiality? will you contend on behalf of God?

Will you be partial for Him? Will you argue [deceitfully] for G d?

Will it be well for you if he should search you out? or as one man deceives another, will you deceive him?

Will it be good when He probes you [and find you liars]? Will you mock Him as one mocks a man [(saying: "For Your honor we have made ourselves liars"?)]

He will surely reprove you, if you secretly show partiality.

He will reprove you [(for your partiality)]. Will you be partial to Him in secret [i.e., when you stand before Him in judgment for your partiality]?

Shall not his majesty make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you?

Will His majesty not confound you and His fright not fall upon you?

Your remembrances are like ashes; your bodies are like bodies of clay.

Your memories are like [the memory of] dust; your heights are like dust to Him.

Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.

Leave off speaking against me, and let me speak, and let there come upon me what may.

For what? I will take my flesh in my teeth, and take my life in my hand.

Why should I hold my flesh in my teeth [(to force myself to silence)] and place [i.e., offer up] my life in my palm?

Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain my own ways before him.

Though He slay me, I will trust in Him, but I would argue my ways to His face [(to know whereof He accuses me)].

This also shall be my salvation: for a hypocrite shall not come before him.

[(And as I am wholehearted with Him)], He, likewise, will be my salvation; for a flatterer [(such as you)] will not come before Him.

Hear diligently my speech, and let my declaration be in your ears.

Hear, then, my words, and let my speech enter your ears.

Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be vindicated.

I have prepared my defense; I know that I will be vindicated.

Who is he that will contend with me? for then I would hold my tongue and die.

Who would dispute with me? If I kept quiet now, I would expire.

Only do not two things to me: then will I not hide myself from Thee.

Just two things do not do to me, and then I will not hide from Your face:

Withdraw Thy hand far from me: and let not Thy terror make me afraid.

Keep Your compulsion far from me, and let Your terror not confound me.

Then call Thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and Thou answer me.

Then call and I will answer, or I shall speak and You answer me.

How many are my iniquities and sins? let me know my transgression and my sin.

How many are my transgressions and my sins? Make known to me my offenses and my sins.

Why dost Thou hide Thy face, and hold me for Thy enemy?

Why do You hide Your face [(from seeing My uprightness)] and reckon me Your foe?

Wilt Thou chase a driven leaf? and wilt Thou pursue the dry stubble?

Will You affright a shriveled leaf? Will You pursue dry stubble?

For Thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me inherit the iniquities of my youth.

For You write down my contrariness against me [(and not the good that I have done)] and You make me inherit the sins of my youth.

Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly at all my paths; Thou settest Thy print upon the heels of my feet.

And You put my feet in stocks and guard all my ways. You engrave my [very] footsteps for Yourself [("Here he stepped and thus he did.")]

And he is consumed like rottenness; like a garment eaten by moths.

But is it [(the body)] not like decaying rottenness, like a moth-eaten garment? [i.e., it is not to Your honor to pursue it so.]