CHAPTER 13

              ¹  Why, my eye has seen all,

                     my ear has heard and understood.

              ²As you know, I, too, know.

                     I am no less than you.

              ³Yet I would speak to Shaddai,

                     and I want to   dispute with God.

              ⁴And yet, you   plaster lies,

                     you are all   quack healers.

              ⁵Would that you fell silent,

                     and this would be your wisdom.

              ⁶Hear, pray, my dispute,

                     and to my lips’ pleas listen closely.

              ⁷Would you speak crookedness of God,

                     and of Him would you speak false things?

              ⁸  Would you be partial on His behalf,

                     would you plead the case of God?

              ⁹Would it be good that He probed you,

                     as one mocks a man would you mock Him?

              ¹⁰He shall surely   dispute with you

                     if in secret you are partial.

              ¹¹Will not His majesty strike you with terror,

                     and His fear fall upon you?

              ¹²Your pronouncements are maxims of ash,

                       your word piles, piles of clay.

              ¹³Be silent before me—I would speak,

                     no matter what befalls me.

              ¹⁴Why should I bear my flesh in my teeth,

                     and   my life-breath place in my palm?

              ¹⁵  Look, He slays me, I have no hope.

                     Yet my ways I’ll dispute to His face.

              ¹⁶Even that becomes my rescue,

                       for no tainted man comes before Him.

              ¹⁷Hear, O hear my word

                     and my utterance in your ears.

              ¹⁸Look, I have laid out my case,

                     I know that I am in the right.

              ¹⁹Who would make a plea against me?

                       I would be silent then, breathe my last.

              ²⁰  Just two things do not do to me,

                       then would I not hide from Your presence.

              ²¹Take Your palm away from me,

                     and   let Your dread not strike me with terror.

              ²²Call and I will reply,

                     or I will speak, and answer me.

              ²³How many crimes and offenses have I?

                       My offense and my wrong, inform me.

              ²⁴Why do You hide Your face,

                     and count me Your enemy?

              ²⁵Would You harry a driven leaf,

                     and a dry straw would You chase,

              ²⁶that You should write bitter things against me,

                     make me heir to the crimes of my youth?

              ²⁷And You put my feet in   stocks,

                     watch after all my paths,

                           on the soles of my feet make a mark.