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 O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom. 6 Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips. 7 Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him? 8 Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God? 9 Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him? 10 He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons. 11 Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you? 12 Your remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.

13 Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will. 14 Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand? 15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. 16 He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him. 17 Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears. 18 Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified. 19 Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost. 20 Only do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from thee. 21 Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread 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 break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble? 26 For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth. 27 Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet. 28 And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth eaten.

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.