13 Lo,
mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it. 2 What
ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you. 3 Surely
I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God. 4 But
ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value. 5 O
that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom. 6 Hear
now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips. 7 Will
ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him? 8 Will
ye accept his person? will ye contend for God? 9 Is
it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another,
do ye so mock him? 10 He
will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons. 11 Shall
not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you? 12 Your
remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay. 13 Hold
your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will. 14 Wherefore
do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?
15
Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own
ways before him. 16 He
also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him. 17 Hear
diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears. 18 Behold
now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified. 19 Who
is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give
up the ghost. 20 Only
do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from thee. 21 Withdraw
thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid. 22 Then
call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me. 23 How
many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and
my sin. 24 Wherefore
hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy? 25 Wilt
thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble? 26 For
thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities
of my youth. 27 Thou
puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths;
thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet. 28 And
he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth eaten.