1 “Behold, my eye has seen all this, My ear has heard and understood it.2 Job 12:3 What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you.3 Job 23:3; 31:35 But I would speak to the Almighty, And I desire to reason with God.4 But you forgers of lies, Job 6:21; (Jer. 23:32) You are all worthless physicians.5 Oh, that you would be silent, And Job 13:13; 21:5; Prov. 17:28 it would be your wisdom!6 Now hear my reasoning, And heed the pleadings of my lips.7 Job 27:4; 36:4 Will you speak 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 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 your peace with me, and let me speak, Then let come on me what may!14 Why Job 18:4 do I take my flesh in my teeth, And put my life in my hands?15 Ps. 23:4; (Prov. 14:32) Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Job 27:5 Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.16 He also shall be my salvation, For a Job 8:13 hypocrite could not come before Him.17 Listen carefully to my speech, And to my declaration with your ears.18 See now, I have prepared my case, I know that I shall be (Rom. 8:34) vindicated.19 Job 7:21; 10:8; Is. 50:8 Who is he who will contend with me? If now I hold my tongue, I perish.20 Job’s Despondent Prayer “Only Job 9:34 two things do not do to me, Then I will not hide myself from You:21 Job 9:34; Ps. 39:10 Withdraw Your hand far from me, And let not the dread of You make me afraid.22 Then call, and I will Job 9:16; 14:15 answer; Or let me speak, then You respond to me.23 How many are my iniquities and sins? Make me know my transgression and my sin.24 (Deut. 32:20); Ps. 13:1 Why do You hide Your face, And Lam. 2:5 regard me as Your enemy?25 Is. 42:3 Will You frighten a leaf driven to and fro? And will You pursue dry stubble?26 For You write bitter things against me, And Job 20:11 make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.27 Job 33:11 You put my feet in the stocks, And watch closely all my paths. You set a limit for the soles of my feet.28 “ Man decays like a rotten thing, Like a garment that is moth-eaten.