1 Eis que tudo isso viram os meus olhos,

e os meus ouvidos o ouviram e entenderam.

2 Como vós o sabeis, também eu o sei;

não vos sou inferior.

3 Mas falarei ao Todo-Poderoso

e quero defender-me perante Deus.

4 Vós, porém, besuntais a verdade com mentiras

e vós todos sois médicos que não valem nada.

5 Tomara vos calásseis de todo,

que isso seria a vossa sabedoria!

6 Ouvi agora a minha defesa

e atentai para os argumentos dos meus lábios.

7 Porventura, falareis perversidade em favor de Deus

e a seu favor falareis mentiras?

8 Sereis parciais por ele?

Contendereis a favor de Deus?

9 Ser-vos-ia bom, se ele vos esquadrinhasse?

Ou zombareis dele, como se zomba de um homem qualquer?

10 Acerbamente vos repreenderá,

se em oculto fordes parciais.

11 Porventura, não vos amedrontará a sua dignidade,

e não cairá sobre vós o seu terror?

12 As vossas máximas são como provérbios de cinza,

os vossos baluartes, baluartes de barro.

13 Calai-vos perante mim, e falarei eu,

e venha sobre mim o que vier.

14 Tomarei a minha carne nos meus dentes

e porei a vida na minha mão.

15 Eis que me matará, já não tenho esperança;

contudo, defenderei o meu procedimento.

16 Também isto será a minha salvação,

o fato de o ímpio não vir perante ele.

17 Atentai para as minhas razões

e dai ouvidos à minha exposição.

18 Tenho já bem-encaminhada minha causa

e estou certo de que serei justificado.

19 Quem há que possa contender comigo?

Neste caso, eu me calaria e renderia o espírito.

20 Concede-me somente duas coisas;

então, me não esconderei do teu rosto:

21 alivia a tua mão de sobre mim,

e não me espante o teu terror.

22 Interpela-me, e te responderei

ou deixa-me falar e tu me responderás.

23 Quantas culpas e pecados tenho eu?

Notifica-me a minha transgressão e o meu pecado.

24 Por que escondes o rosto

e me tens por teu inimigo?

25 Queres aterrorizar uma folha arrebatada pelo vento?

E perseguirás a palha seca?

26 Pois decretas contra mim coisas amargas

e me atribuis as culpas da minha mocidade.

27 Também pões os meus pés no tronco,

observas todos os meus caminhos

e traças limites à planta dos meus pés,

28 apesar de eu ser como uma coisa podre que se consome

e como a roupa que é comida da traça.

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.

1 "My eyes have seen all this, my ears have heard and understood it.

2 What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you.

3 But I desire to speak to the Almighty and to argue my case with God.

4 You, however, smear me with lies; you are worthless physicians, all of you!

5 If only you would be altogether silent! For you, that would be wisdom.

6 Hear now my argument; listen to the pleas of my lips.

7 Will you speak wickedly on God's behalf? Will you speak deceitfully for him?

8 Will you show him partiality? Will you argue the case for God?

9 Would it turn out well if he examined you? Could you deceive him as you might deceive a mortal?

10 He would surely call you to account if you secretly showed partiality.

11 Would not his splendor terrify you? Would not the dread of him fall on you?

12 Your maxims are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay.

13 "Keep silent and let me speak; then let come to me what may.

14 Why do I put myself in jeopardy and take my life in my hands?

15 Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely "defend my ways to his face.

16 Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance, for no godless person would dare come before him!

17 Listen carefully to what I say; let my words ring in your ears.

18 Now that I have prepared my case, I know I will be vindicated.

19 Can anyone bring charges against me? If so, I will be silent and die.

20 "Only grant me these two things, God, and then I will not hide from you:

21 Withdraw your hand far from me, and stop frightening me with your terrors.

22 Then summon me and I will answer, or let me speak, and you reply to me.

23 How many wrongs and sins have I committed? Show me my offense and my sin.

24 Why do you hide your face and consider me your enemy?

25 Will you torment a windblown leaf? Will you chase after dry chaff?

26 For you write down bitter things against me and make me reap the sins of my youth.

27 You fasten my feet in shackles; you keep close watch on all my paths by putting marks on the soles of my feet.

28 "So man wastes away like something rotten, like a garment eaten by moths.