1 Kyk, alles het my oog gesien, my oor gehoor en opgemerk.

2 Wat julle weet, weet ek ook: ek staan nie vir julle terug nie.

3 Maar ,k sal met die Almagtige spreek, en ek verlang om te pleit by God.

4 Maar julle pleister met leuens, kwaksalwers is julle almal.

5 Ag, as julle maar heeltemal sou swyg -- dan sou dit vir julle wysheid wees!

6 Hoor tog na my verantwoording, en luister na die aanvalle van my lippe.

7 Wil julle, tot verdediging van God, onreg spreek en ten behoewe van Hom bedrog laat hoor?

8 Wil julle vir Hom partydig wees? Of wil julle vir God pleit?

9 Sal dit goed wees as Hy julle ondersoek? Of wil julle Hom bedrieg soos 'n mens bedrieg word?

10 Hy sal julle sekerlik straf as julle in die geheim partydig is.

11 Sal sy hoogheid julle nie verskrik nie, en die skrik vir Hom julle nie oorval nie?

12 Julle kernspreuke is spreuke van as, julle skanse word skanse van klei.

13 Laat my met rus; dan wil ,k spreek; laat dan oor my kom wat wil.

14 Waarom sou ek my vlees in my tande neem en my lewe neerlê in my hand?

15 Kyk, al wil Hy my ombring -- ek hoop op Hom; ek sal tog my wandel voor sy aangesig bepleit.

16 Ook is dit my tot heil dat 'n goddelose voor sy aangesig nie sal kom nie.

17 Luister goed na my rede en gee gehoor aan my verklaring.

18 Kyk tog, ek dra die regsaak voor; ek weet dat ,k reg sal hê.

19 Wie durf my dan bestry? Ja, dan sou ek swyg en sterwe.

20 Moet my net twee dinge nie aandoen nie, dan sal ek my vir u aangesig nie verberg nie:

21 trek u hand weg van my af, en laat die skrik vir U my nie beangstig nie.

22 Klaag dan maar aan, en ,k sal antwoord; of ek sal spreek, en gee U my antwoord.

23 Hoeveel is my ongeregtighede en sondes; maak my my oortreding en sonde bekend.

24 Waarom verberg U u aangesig en hou my vir 'n vyand van U?

25 Wil U 'n verwaaide blaar skrik aanja en die droë stoppel agtervolg,

26 dat U bitter dinge oor my beskik en my die ongeregtighede van my jeug laat erwe,

27 en dat U my voete in die blok sit en al my paaie bewaak? U trek vir U 'n streep om die sole van my voete;

28 en d¡t iemand wat verval soos hout wat weggevreet is, soos 'n kleed wat die mot verteer.

1 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 Oh that ye would altogether hold your peace!

And it would be your wisdom.

6 Hear now my reasoning,

And hearken to the pleadings of my lips.

7 Will ye speak unrighteously for God,

And talk deceitfully for him?

8 Will ye show partiality to him?

Will ye contend for God?

9 Is it good that he should search you out?

Or as one deceiveth a man, will ye deceive him?

10 He will surely reprove you,

If ye do secretly show partiality.

11 Shall not his majesty make you afraid,

And his dread fall upon you?

12 Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes,

Your defences are defences of clay.

13 Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak;

And let come on me what will.

14 Wherefore should I take my flesh in my teeth,

And put my life in my hand?

15 Behold, he will slay me; I have no hope:

Nevertheless I will maintain my ways before him.

16 This also shall be my salvation,

That a godless man shall not come before him.

17 Hear diligently my speech,

And let my declaration be in your ears.

18 Behold now, I have set my cause in order;

I know that I am righteous.

19 Who is he that will contend with me?

For then would I hold my peace and give up the ghost.

20 Only do not two things unto me;

Then will I not hide myself from thy face:

21 Withdraw thy hand far from me;

And let not thy terror 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 harass a driven leaf?

And wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?

26 For thou writest bitter things against me,

And makest me to inherit the iniquities of my youth:

27 Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks,

And markest all my paths;

Thou settest a bound to the soles of my feet:

28 Though I am like a rotten thing that consumeth,

Like a garment that is moth-eaten.