Self-defense

¹Look, my eye has seen it all;

my ear has heard and understood it.

²Just as you know, I also know;

I’m not inferior to you.

³But I want to speak to the Almighty;

I would gladly present my case to God.

Friends attacked

⁴You, however, are plasterers of lies;

ineffective healers, all of you.

⁵Would that you were completely quiet;

that would be your wisdom.

⁶Hear my teaching

and pay attention to the arguments of my lips.

⁷Will you speak injustice for God,

speak deceit on his behalf?

⁸Will you be partial

or contend for God?

⁹Will it go well when he searches you,

or can you fool him as you fool people?

¹⁰He will certainly correct you

if you’ve been secretly partial.

¹¹Wouldn’t his majesty scare you

and dread of him fall on you?

¹²Your old sayings are proverbs made of ashes,

your sayings defenses made of clay.

Job will speak out

¹³Be quiet and I will speak,

come what may.

¹⁴For what reason will I take my flesh in my teeth,

put my life in jeopardy?

¹⁵He will slay me; I’m without hope;[#13.15 Or Though he slay me, yet I will trust him.]

I will surely prove my way to his face.

¹⁶Also this will be my vindication,

that a godless person won’t come before him.

¹⁷Listen closely to my words

so that my remarks will be in your ears.

Against God

¹⁸Look, I have laid out my case;

I know that I’m innocent.

¹⁹Who would dare contend with me,

for then I would be quiet and die.

²⁰Only don’t do two things to me,

then I won’t hide from your face.

²¹Remove your hand far from me

and don’t terrify me with your anger.

²²Then call and I’ll answer,

or I’ll speak and you can reply.

²³How many are my offenses and sins?

Inform me about my rebellions and sins.

²⁴Why hide your face from me

and consider me your enemy?

²⁵Will you cause a wind-tossed leaf to tremble, or will you pursue dry straw?

²⁶You even write bitter things about me,

make me inherit my youthful indiscretions.

²⁷You tie up my feet and restrict all actions;

you stamp marks on the bottom of my feet.

Human destiny

²⁸Surely a person wastes away like refuse,

like clothing that a moth eats.