✧Lo, mine eye hath seen all [this], Mine ear hath heard and understood it. ✧2What ye know, [the same] do I know also: I am not inferior unto you. ✧3Surely I would speak to the Almighty, And I desire to reason with God. ✧4But ye are forgers of lies; Ye are all physicians of no value. ✧5Oh that ye would altogether hold your peace! And it would be your wisdom. ✧6Hear now my reasoning, And hearken to the pleadings of my lips. ✧7Will ye speak unrighteously for God, And talk deceitfully for him? ✧8Will ye show partiality to him? Will ye contend for God? ✧9Is it good that he should search you out? Or as one deceiveth a man, will ye deceive him? ✧10He will surely reprove you, If ye do secretly show partiality. ✧11Shall not his majesty make you afraid, And his dread fall upon you? ✧12Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes, Your defences are defences of clay. ✧13Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak; And let come on me what will. ✧14Wherefore should I take my flesh in my teeth, And put my life in my hand? ✧15Behold, he will slay me; I have no hope: Nevertheless I will maintain my ways before him. ✧16This also shall be my salvation, That a godless man shall not come before him. ✧17Hear diligently my speech, And let my declaration be in your ears. ✧18Behold now, I have set my cause in order; I know that I am righteous. ✧19Who is he that will contend with me? For then would I hold my peace and give up the ghost. ✧20Only do not two things unto me; Then will I not hide myself from thy face: ✧21Withdraw thy hand far from me; And let not thy terror make me afraid. ✧22Then call thou, and I will answer; Or let me speak, and answer thou me. ✧23How many are mine iniquities and sins? Make me to know my transgression and my sin. ✧24Wherefore hidest thou thy face, And holdest me for thine enemy? ✧25Wilt thou harass a driven leaf? And wilt thou pursue the dry stubble? ✧26For thou writest bitter things against me, And makest me to inherit the iniquities of my youth: ✧27Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, And markest all my paths; Thou settest a bound to the soles of my feet: ✧28Though I am like a rotten thing that consumeth, Like a garment that is moth-eaten.