Study Desk

"My eyes have seen all this,^(a) my ears have heard and understood it.

What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you.^(b)

But I desire to speak to the Almighty^(c) and to argue my case with God.^(d)

You, however, smear me with lies;^(e) you are worthless physicians,^(f) all of you!^(g)

If only you would be altogether silent!^(h) For you, that would be wisdom.⁽ⁱ⁾

Hear now my argument; listen to the pleas of my lips.^(j)

Will you speak wickedly on God's behalf? Will you speak deceitfully for him?^(k)

Will you show him partiality?^(l) Will you argue the case for God?

Would it turn out well if he examined you?^(m) Could you deceive him as you might deceive a mortal?⁽ⁿ⁾

He would surely call you to account if you secretly showed partiality.^(o)

Would not his splendor^(p) terrify you? Would not the dread of him fall on you?^(q)

Your maxims are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay.^(r)

"Keep silent^(s) and let me speak;^(t) then let come to me what may.^(u)

Why do I put myself in jeopardy and take my life in my hands?^(v)

Though he slay me, yet will I hope^(w) in him;^(x) I will surely^[a] defend my ways to his face.^(y)

Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance,^(z) for no godless^(aa) person would dare come before him!^(ab)

Listen carefully to what I say;^(ac) let my words ring in your ears.

Now that I have prepared my case,^(ad) I know I will be vindicated.^(ae)

Can anyone bring charges against me?^(af) If so, I will be silent^(ag) and die.^(ah)

"Only grant me these two things, God, and then I will not hide from you:

Withdraw your hand^(ai) far from me, and stop frightening me with your terrors.^(aj)

Then summon me and I will answer,^(ak) or let me speak, and you reply to me.^(al)

How many wrongs and sins have I committed?^(am) Show me my offense and my sin.^(an)

Why do you hide your face^(ao) and consider me your enemy?^(ap)

Will you torment^(aq) a windblown leaf?^(ar) Will you chase^(as) after dry chaff?^(at)

For you write down bitter things against me and make me reap the sins of my youth.^(au)

You fasten my feet in shackles;^(av) you keep close watch on all my paths^(aw) by putting marks on the soles of my feet.

"So man wastes away like something rotten, like a garment^(ax) eaten by moths.^(ay)

"Mortals, born of woman,^(a) are of few days^(b) and full of trouble.^(c)

They spring up like flowers^(d) and wither away;^(e) like fleeting shadows,^(f) they do not endure.^(g)

Do you fix your eye on them?^(h) Will you bring them^[a] before you for judgment?⁽ⁱ⁾

Who can bring what is pure^(j) from the impure?^(k) No one!^(l)

A person's days are determined;^(m) you have decreed the number of his months⁽ⁿ⁾ and have set limits he cannot exceed.^(o)

So look away from him and let him alone,^(p) till he has put in his time like a hired laborer.^(q)

"At least there is hope for a tree:^(r) If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its new shoots^(s) will not fail.^(t)

Its roots may grow old in the ground and its stump^(u) die in the soil,

yet at the scent of water^(v) it will bud and put forth shoots like a plant.^(w)

But a man dies and is laid low;^(x) he breathes his last and is no more.^(y)

As the water of a lake dries up or a riverbed becomes parched and dry,^(z)

so he lies down and does not rise;^(aa) till the heavens are no more,^(ab) people will not awake or be roused from their sleep.^(ac)

"If only you would hide me in the grave^(ad) and conceal me till your anger has passed!^(ae) If only you would set me a time and then remember^(af) me!^(ag)

If someone dies, will they live again? All the days of my hard service^(ah) I will wait for my renewal^[b](ai) to come.

You will call and I will answer you;^(aj) you will long for the creature your hands have made.^(ak)

Surely then you will count my steps^(al) but not keep track of my sin.^(am)

My offenses will be sealed^(an) up in a bag;^(ao) you will cover over my sin.^(ap)

"But as a mountain erodes and crumbles^(aq) and as a rock is moved from its place,^(ar)

as water wears away stones and torrents^(as) wash away the soil,^(at) so you destroy a person's hope.^(au)

You overpower them once for all, and they are gone;^(av) you change their countenance and send them away.^(aw)

If their children are honored, they do not know it; if their offspring are brought low, they do not see it.^(ax)

They feel but the pain of their own bodies^(ay) and mourn only for themselves.^(az)"