1 “Behold, my eye has seen all
this, My ear has heard and understood it.
2 a What you know, I also know;
I
am not inferior to you.
‡
3 a But I would speak to the Almighty,
And I desire to reason with God.
‡
4 But you forgers of lies,
a You
are all worthless physicians.
‡
5 Oh, that you would be silent,
And
a it would be your wisdom!
‡
6 Now hear my reasoning,
And heed the pleadings of my lips.
7 a Will you speak
1 wickedly for God,
And talk deceitfully for Him?
‡
8 Will you show partiality for Him?
Will you contend for God?
9 Will it be well when He searches you out?
Or can you mock Him as one mocks a man?
10 He will surely rebuke you
If you secretly show partiality.
11 Will not His
1 excellence make you afraid,
And the dread of Him fall upon you?
‡
12 Your platitudes
are proverbs of ashes,
Your defenses are defenses of clay.
13 “Hold
1 your peace with me, and let me speak,
Then let come on me what
may! ‡
14 Why
a do I take my flesh in my teeth,
And put my life in my hands?
‡
15 a Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.
b Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.
‡
New King James Version®, Copyright© 1982, Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
