¹“Behold, my eye has seen all this. My ear has heard and understood it. ²What you know, I know also. I am not inferior to you. ³“Surely I would speak to the Almighty. I desire to reason with God. ⁴But you are forgers of lies. You are all physicians of no value. ⁵Oh that you would be completely silent! Then you would be wise. ⁶Hear now my reasoning. Listen to the pleadings of my lips. ⁷Will you speak unrighteously for God, and talk deceitfully for him? ⁸Will you show partiality to him? Will you contend for God? ⁹Is it good that he should search you out? Or as one deceives a man, will you deceive him? ¹⁰He will surely reprove you, if you secretly show partiality. ¹¹Shall not his majesty make you afraid, And his dread fall on you? ¹²Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes, Your defenses are defenses of clay. ¹³“Be silent, leave me alone, that I may speak. Let come on me what will. ¹⁴Why should I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand? ¹⁵Behold, he will kill me. I have no hope. Nevertheless, I will maintain my ways before him. ¹⁶This also shall be my salvation, that a godless man shall not come before him. ¹⁷Hear diligently my speech. Let my declaration be in your ears.