Job Reproves his Friends

1Lo, my eye hath seen all this, my ear hath heard and understood it.

2What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior to you.

3Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.

4But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.

5O that ye would altogether hold your peace and it would be your wisdom.

6Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.

7Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?

8Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God?

9Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him?

10He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.

11Shall not his excellence make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you?

12Your remembrances are like to ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.

13Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.

14Why do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand?

15Though he shall slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain my own ways before him.

16He also shall be my salvation: for a hypocrite shall not come before him.

17Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.

18Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.

19Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall expire.

20Only do not two things to me: then will I not hide myself from thee.

21Withdraw thy hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid.

22Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me.

23How many are my iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin.

24Why hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thy enemy?

25Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?

26For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth.

27Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly to all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet.

28And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth-eaten.