I Will Be Declared Righteous
“aBehold, my eye has seen all this;
My ear has heard and understood it.
2 aWhat you know I also know;
I have not fallen short of you.
3 “But aI would speak to the Almighty,
And I desire to bargue with God.
4 But you acover me with lies;
You are all bworthless physicians.
5 O that you would abe completely silent,
And that it would become your wisdom!
6 Please hear my argument
And give heed to the contentions of my lips.
7 Will you aspeak what is unrighteous for God,
And speak what is deceitful for Him?
8 Will you ashow partiality for Him?
Will you contend for God?
9 Will it be well when He examines you?
Or awill you deceive Him as one deceives a man?
10 He will surely reprove you
If you secretly ashow partiality.
11 Will not aHis exaltedness terrify you,
And the dread of Him fall on you?
12 Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes;
Your defenses are defenses of clay.
13 “aBe silent before me so that I may speak;
Then let come on me what may.
14 Why should I take my flesh in my teeth
And aput my life in my hands?
15 aThough He slay me,
I will hope in Him.
Nevertheless I bwill argue my ways before Him.
16 This also will be my asalvation,
For ba godless man may not come before His presence.
17 Listen carefully to my words,
And let my declaration fill your ears.
18 Behold now, I have aarranged my case for justice;
I know that bI will be declared righteous.
19 aWho will contend with me?
For now I am silent and bwill breathe my last.
20 “Only two things do not do to me,
Then I will not hide from Your face:
21 aMove Your hand far from me,
And let not the dread of You terrify me.
22 Then call, and aI will answer;
Or let me speak, then respond to me.
23 aHow many are my iniquities and sins?
Make known to me my transgression and my sin.
24 Why do You ahide Your face
And think of me as bYour enemy?
25 Will You cause a adriven leaf to tremble?
Or will You pursue the dry bchaff?
26 For You write abitter things against me
And bmake me to possess the iniquities of my youth.
27 You aput my feet in the stocks
And kept watch over all my paths;
You set a limit for the soles of my feet,
28 While I am decaying like a arotten thing,
Like a garment that is moth‑eaten.