I Will Be Declared Righteous

¹“Behold, my eye has seen all this ;

My ear has heard and understood it.

²“What you know I also know;

I have not fallen short of you.

³¶“But I would speak to the Almighty,[#13:3 Heb Shaddai]

And I desire to argue with God.

⁴“But you cover me with lies;

You are all worthless physicians.

⁵“O that you would be completely silent,

And that it would become your wisdom!

⁶“Please hear my argument

And give heed to the contentions of my lips.

⁷“Will you speak what is unrighteous for God,

And speak what is deceitful for Him?

⁸“Will you show partiality for Him?

Will you contend for God?

⁹“Will it be well when He examines you?

Or will you deceive Him as one deceives a man?

¹⁰“He will surely reprove you

If you secretly show partiality.

¹¹“Will not His exaltedness terrify you,

And the dread of Him fall on you?

¹²“Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes;

Your defenses are defenses of clay.

¹³¶“Be silent before me so that I may speak;

Then let come on me what may.

¹⁴“Why should I take my flesh in my teeth

And put my life in my hands?

¹⁵“Though He slay me,[#13:15 Or He will slay me, I have no hope]

I will hope in Him.

Nevertheless I will argue my ways before Him.

¹⁶“This also will be my salvation,

For a godless man may not come before His presence.

¹⁷“Listen carefully to my words,[#13:17 Or persist in listening]

And let my declaration fill your ears.

¹⁸“Behold now, I have arranged my case for justice;

I know that I will be declared righteous.

¹⁹“Who will contend with me?

For now I am silent and will breathe my last.

²⁰¶“Only two things do not do to me,

Then I will not hide from Your face:

²¹Move Your hand far from me,[#13:21 Lit palm]

And let not the dread of You terrify me.

²²“Then call, and I will answer;

Or let me speak, then respond to me.

²³“How many are my iniquities and sins?

Make known to me my transgression and my sin.

²⁴“Why do You hide Your face

And think of me as Your enemy?

²⁵“Will You cause a driven leaf to tremble?

Or will You pursue the dry chaff?

²⁶“For You write bitter things against me

And make me to possess the iniquities of my youth.

²⁷“You put my feet in the stocks

And kept watch over all my paths;

You set a limit for the soles of my feet,

²⁸While I am decaying like a rotten thing,[#13:28 Lit he is]

Like a garment that is moth-eaten.