1 Look{hen: attention marker}, my eye has seen all this; my ear has heard and understood{vataven: grasped meaning} it.
2 According to your knowledge{daat: what you grasp}, I also know; I do not lag{nofel: falling short} behind you.
3 Yet I will speak to the Almighty {Shaddai, Overwhelming Sovereign}, and I earnestly desire to reason with God {El, Just Judge}.
4 But you are smearers {toflei: deceptive whitewash} of falsehood—healers of nothingness {elil: utter emptiness}, all of you.
5 If only you would truly be silent{hacharesh: emphatic silence}; that would be wisdom{chokhmah: prudent restraint} for you.
6 Hear, please, my reproof {tokhakhti: legal rebuke}; and listen attentively to the contentions {rivot: contested charges} of my lips.
7 Will you speak injustice for God {El, Righteous Judge}? And will you speak deceit {remiyyah: treacherous speech} for Him?
8 Will you show Him partiality {panav: favored treatment}? Will you contend for God {El, Righteous Judge}?
9 Is it good {tov: desirable outcome} that He {YHWH, Sovereign Judge} examines you? Or, as one deceives a mortal {enosh: frail man}, will you deceive Him?
10 He {YHWH, Just Judge} will surely rebuke you if you lift up faces {panim: show favoritism} in secret.
11 Would not His {YHWH, Sovereign Judge} majesty {se'eto: regal exaltation} terrify you, and His dread fall upon you?
12 Your remembrances{zikhroneikhem: stored recollections} are sayings of ash; your defenses{gabbekhem: fragile bulwark} are defenses of clay.
13 Be silent{hacharishu: stop speaking} from me, and let me speak—I; and let it pass over me{yaavor: come upon}, whatever.
14 Why should I take my flesh in my teeth{shinnay: deadly risk}, and put my life in my palm{kaf: exposed hold}?
15 Behold, though He {Just Judge} slay me, yet I will hope in Him; surely I will argue my ways {derakhai: my conduct} to His face.
16 Also, He {hu: God Himself} will be for me salvation {yeshuah: saving deliverance}, for a godless person will not come before Him.
17 Hear, indeed hear, my word {milati: spoken utterance}, and my declaration {achavati: stated case}, in your ears.
18 Behold, now I have arranged my case{mishpat: courtroom dispute}; I know that I will be justified{etzdaq: declared innocent}.
19 Who is he who will contend{yariv: legal dispute} with me? For now{ki-attah: at present}, I will be silent and I will expire.
20 Only do not do two requests {shetayim: two requests} with me; then I will not hide myself from before You {Just Judge}.
21 Put far Your hand{kafkha: forceful touch} from upon me, and let not Your terror{ematkha: paralyzing dread} terrify me.
22 Call, and I will answer; or let me speak, and You {Divine Hearer} answer {shuv: return reply} me.
23 How many iniquities and sins are mine? Make known to me my transgression {pish'i: willful rebellion} and my sin {chatati: moral failure}.
24 Why do You hide{ tasteir: keep concealed} Your face{panekha: relational favor}, and consider me an enemy to You?
25 Will You {YHWH, Sovereign Judge} terrify a driven leaf? And will You pursue dry chaff {qash: harvest refuse}?
26 For You write bitter things {merorot: grievous charges} against me, and You cause me to inherit {torisheni: assigned portion} the iniquities of my youth.
27 You {Divine Examiner} set my feet in the stocks {sad: confinement frame} and keep watch over all my paths; You mark the soles of my feet.
28 And he will waste away like rot{rakav: hidden decomposition}, like a garment consumed by a moth{ash: cloth eater}.