Read the Bible

¹ "All this I have seen with my own eyes;
with my own ears I have heard and understood it.
² Whatever you know, I know too;
I am not inferior to you.
³ However, it's Shaddai I want to speak with;
I want to prove my case to God.
⁴ But you, what you do is whitewash with lies;
you are all witch doctors!
⁵ I wish you would just stay silent;
for you, that would be wisdom!

⁶ "Now listen to my reasoning,
pay attention to how I present my dispute.
⁷ Is it for God's sake that you speak so wickedly?
for him that you talk deceitfully?
⁸ Do you need to take his side
and plead God's case for him?
⁹ If he examines you, will all go well?
Can you deceive him, as one man deceives another?
¹⁰ If you are secretly flattering [him],
he will surely rebuke you.
¹¹ Doesn't God's majesty terrify you?
Aren't you overcome with dread of him?
¹² Your maxims are garbage-proverbs;
your answers crumble like clay.

¹³ "So be quiet! Let me be! I'll do the talking,
come on me what may!
¹⁴ Why am I taking my flesh in my teeth,
taking my life in my hands?
¹⁵ Look, he will kill me — I don't expect more,
but I will still defend my ways to his face.
¹⁶ And this is what will save me —
that a hypocrite cannot appear before him.

¹⁷ "Listen closely, then, to my words;
pay attention to what I am saying.
¹⁸ Here, now, I have prepared my case;
I know I am in the right.
¹⁹ If anyone can contend with me,
I will be quiet and die!
²⁰ "Only grant two things to me, God;
then I won't hide myself from your face —
²¹ take your hand away from me,
and don't let fear of you frighten me.
²² Then, if you call, I will answer.
Or let me speak, and you, answer me!
²³ How many crimes and sins have I committed?
Make me know my transgression and sin.
²⁴ Why do you hide your face
and think of me as your enemy?
²⁵ Do you want to harass a wind-driven leaf?
do you want to pursue a dry straw?
²⁶ Is this why you draw up bitter charges against me
and punish me for the faults of my youth?
²⁷ You put my feet in the stocks,
you watch me closely wherever I go,
you trace out each footprint of mine —
²⁸ though [my body] decays like something rotten
or like a moth-eaten garment.