Read the Bible

¹ "I have seen all this before.
    I have already heard everything you say.
    I understand all these things.
² I know as much as you do.
    I am as smart as you are.
³ But I don't want to argue with you.
    I want to speak to God All-Powerful.
    I want to argue with God about my troubles.
⁴ But you men try to cover up your ignorance with lies.
    You are like worthless doctors who cannot heal anyone.
⁵ I wish you would just be quiet.
    That would be the wisest thing you could do.

⁶ "Now, listen to my argument.
    Listen to what I have to say.
⁷ Will you speak lies for God?
    Do you really believe your lies are what God wants you to say?
⁸ Are you trying to defend God against me?
    You are not being fair.
    You are choosing God's side simply because he is God.
⁹ If God checked you very closely,
    would he see that you are right?
Do you really think you can fool God
    the same as you fool people?
¹⁰ You know that God would criticize you
    if you chose someone's side simply because they were important.
¹¹ God's majesty frightens you.
    You are afraid of him.
¹² The wise sayings you quote are worthless.
    Your arguments are as weak as clay.

¹³ "Be quiet and let me talk!
    I accept whatever happens to me.
¹⁴ I will put myself in danger
    and take my life in my own hands.
¹⁵ I will continue to trust God even if he kills me.^[a]
    But I will defend myself to his face.
¹⁶ And if he lets me live, it will be because I had the confidence to speak.
    No guilty person would dare meet God face to face.
¹⁷ Listen carefully to what I say.
    Let me explain.
¹⁸ I am ready now to defend myself.
    I will carefully present my arguments.
    I know I will be shown to be right.
¹⁹ If anyone can prove I am wrong,
    I will shut up and wait to die.

²⁰ "God, just give me two things,
    and then I will not hide from you:
²¹ Stop punishing me,
    and don't frighten me with your terrors.
²² Then call to me, and I will answer you.
    Or let me speak, and you answer me.
²³ How many sins have I committed?
    What wrongs have I done?
    Show me where I went wrong or how I sinned.
²⁴ God, why do you avoid me
    and treat me like your enemy?
²⁵ Are you trying to scare me?
    I am only a leaf blowing in the wind.
    You are attacking a piece of straw!
²⁶ You have a list of terrible charges against me.
    Are you making me suffer for the sins I did when I was young?
²⁷ You have put chains on my feet.
    You watch every step I take.
    You see every move I make.
²⁸ So I am becoming weaker and weaker,
    like a piece of wood rotting away,
    like a piece of cloth eaten by moths.