1 Lo, mine eye hath seen all {this}, mine ear hath heard and understood it.2 What ye know, I know also: I am not inferior to you.3 But I will speak to the Almighty, and will find pleasure in reasoning with *God;4 For ye indeed are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.5 Oh that ye would be altogether silent! and it would be your wisdom.6 Hear now my defence, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.7 Will ye speak unrighteously for *God? and for him speak deceit?8 Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for *God?9 Will it be well if he should search you out? or as one mocketh at a man, will ye mock at him?10 He will certainly reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.11 Shall not his excellency terrify you? and his dread fall upon you?12 Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes, your bulwarks are bulwarks of mire.13 Hold your peace from me, and I will 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, if he slay me, yet would I trust in him; but I will defend mine own ways before him.16 This also shall be my salvation, that a profane man shall not come before his face.17 Hear attentively my speech and my declaration with your ears.18 Behold now, I have ordered the cause; I know that I shall be justified.19 Who is he that contendeth with me? For if I were silent now, I should expire.20 Only do not two things unto me; then will I not hide myself from thee.21 Withdraw thy hand far from me; and let not thy terror make me afraid:22 Then call, and I will answer; or I will speak, and answer thou me.23 How many are mine iniquities and sins? Make me to know my transgression and my sin.24 Wherefore dost thou hide thy face, and countest me for thine enemy?25 Wilt thou terrify a driven leaf? and wilt thou pursue dry stubble?26 For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth;27 And thou puttest my feet in the stocks, and markest all my paths; thou settest a bound about the soles of my feet; -28 One who, as a rotten thing consumeth, as a garment that the moth eateth.

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.