1Lo, 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 . 5O that ye would altogether hold your peace ! and it should be your wisdom . 6Hear now my reasoning , and hearken to the pleadings of my lips .
Job's Desire to Speak to God
7Will ye speak wickedly for God ? and talk deceitfully for him? 8Will ye accept his person ? will ye contend for God ? 9Is it good that he should search you out ? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him? 10He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons . 11Shall not his excellency make you afraid ? and his dread fall upon you? 12Your remembrances are like unto ashes , your bodies to bodies of clay .
The Reality of God's Judgment
13Hold your peace , let me alone, that I may speak , and let come on me what will . 14Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth , and put my life in mine hand ? 15Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. 16He also shall be my salvation : for an hypocrite shall not come before him. 17Hear diligently my speech , and my declaration with your ears . 18Behold now, I have ordered my cause ; I know that I shall be justified . 19Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue , I shall give up the ghost .
Job's Confidence in His Integrity
20Only do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from thee . 21Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread 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 break a leaf driven to and fro ? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble ? 26For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth . 27Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks , and lookest narrowly unto all my paths ; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet .
The Final Plea for Understanding
28And he, as a rotten thing , consumeth , as a garment that is moth eaten .