“Surely I would speak to the Almighty. I desire to reason with God. But y’all are forgers of lies. Y’all are all physicians of no value. Oh that y’all would be silent-silent! Then y’all would be wise. Please y’all, listen now to my reasoning. Listen to the pleadings of my lips. Will y’all speak unrighteously for God, and talk deceitfully for him? Will y’all show partiality to ʜɪᴍ? Will y’all contend for God? Is it good that ʜᴇ should search y’all out? Or as one deceives a human, will y’all deceive ʜɪᴍ? Hᴇ rebuke-rebuke y’all if y’all secretly show partiality. Won’t ʜɪꜱ majesty make y’all afraid and ʜɪꜱ dread fall on y’all? Y’all’s memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes. Y’all’s defenses are defenses of clay.
“Y’all be silent before me, so that I may speak. Let come on me what will. Why should I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand? Even if ʜᴇ will kill me, I will hope in ʜɪᴍ. Surely, I will defend my ways before him. This also will be my salvation, that a godless person may not come before ʜɪᴍ. Y’all must listen-listen to my speech. Let my declaration be in y’all’s ears. See now, I have set my cause in order. I know that I am righteous. Who is he who will contend with me? For then would I hold my peace and give up the spirit.
“Only don’t do two things to me, then I will not hide myself from your face: Withdraw your hand far from me, and don’t let your terror make me afraid. Then call, and I will answer, or let me speak, and you answer me. How many are my iniquities and sins? Make me know my disobedience and my sin. Why do you hide your face, and consider me your enemy? Will you harass a driven leaf? Will you pursue the dry stubble? For you write bitter things against me, and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth. You also put my feet in the stocks, and mark all my paths. You set a bound to the soles of my feet, though I am decaying like a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten.