“Behold, my eye has seen all this,
My ear has heard and understood it.
2 aWhat you know, I also know;
I am not inferior to you.
3 aBut I would speak to the Almighty,
And I desire to reason with God.
4 But you forgers of lies,
aYou are all worthless physicians.
5 Oh, that you would be silent,
And ait would be your wisdom!
6 Now hear my reasoning,
And heed the pleadings of my lips.
7 aWill you speak wickedly for God,
And talk deceitfully for Him?
8 Will you show partiality for Him?
Will you contend for God?
9 Will it be well when He searches you out?
Or can you mock Him as one mocks a man?
10 He will surely rebuke you
If you secretly show partiality.
11 Will not His excellence make you afraid,
And the dread of Him fall upon you?
12 Your platitudes are proverbs of ashes,
Your defenses are defenses of clay.
13 “Hold your peace with me, and let me speak,
Then let come on me what may!
14 Why ado I take my flesh in my teeth,
And put my life in my hands?
15 aThough He slay me, yet will I trust Him.
bEven so, I will defend my own ways before Him.
16 He also shall be my salvation,
For a ahypocrite could not come before Him.
17 Listen carefully to my speech,
And to my declaration with your ears.
18 See now, I have prepared my case,
I know that I shall be avindicated.
19 aWho is he who will contend with me?
If now I hold my tongue, I perish.
Job’s Despondent Prayer
20 “Onlya two things do not do to me,
Then I will not hide myself from You:
21 aWithdraw Your hand far from me,
And let not the dread of You make me afraid.
22 Then call, and I will aanswer;
Or let me speak, then You respond to me.
23 How many are my iniquities and sins?
Make me know my transgression and my sin.
24 aWhy do You hide Your face,
And bregard me as Your enemy?
25 aWill You frighten a leaf driven to and fro?
And will You pursue dry stubble?
26 For You write bitter things against me,
And amake me inherit the iniquities of my youth.
27 aYou put my feet in the stocks,
And watch closely all my paths.
You set a limit for the soles of my feet.
28 “Man decays like a rotten thing,
Like a garment that is moth‑eaten.
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson.
All rights reserved.