13 “Look, I have seen many instances such as you describe. I understand what you are saying. ² I know as much as you do. I’m not stupid. ³ Oh, how I long to speak directly to the Almighty. I want to talk this over with God himself. ⁴ For you are misinterpreting the whole thing. You are doctors who don’t know what they are doing. ⁵ Oh, please be quiet! That would be your highest wisdom.

⁶ “Listen to me now, to my reasons for what I think and to my pleadings.

⁷ “Must you go on ‘speaking for God’ when he never once has said the things that you are putting in his mouth? ⁸ Does God want your help if you are going to twist the truth for him? ⁹ Be careful that he doesn’t find out what you are doing! Or do you think you can fool God as well as men? ¹⁰ No, you will be in serious trouble with him if you use lies to try to help him out. ¹¹ Doesn’t his majesty strike terror to your heart? How can you do this thing? ¹² These tremendous statements you have made have about as much value as ashes. Your defense of God is as fragile as a clay vase!

¹³ “Be silent now and leave me alone, that I may speak—and I am willing to face the consequences. ¹⁴ Yes, I will take my life in my hand and say what I really think. ¹⁵ God may kill me for saying this—in fact, I expect him to. Nevertheless, I am going to argue my case with him.^{[a] 16} This at least will be in my favor, that I am not godless, to be rejected instantly from his presence. ¹⁷ Listen closely to what I am about to say. Hear me out.

¹⁸ “This is my case: I know that I am righteous. ¹⁹ Who can argue with me over this? If you could prove me wrong, I would stop defending myself and die.

²⁰ “O God, there are two things I beg you not to do to me; only then will I be able to face you. ²¹ Don’t abandon me. And don’t terrify me with your awesome presence. ²² Call to me to come—how quickly I will answer! Or let me speak to you, and you reply. ²³ Tell me, what have I done wrong? Help me! Point out my sin to me. ²⁴ Why do you turn away from me? Why hand me over to my enemy? ²⁵ Would you blame a leaf that is blown about by the wind? Will you chase dry, useless straws?

²⁶ “You write bitter things against me and bring up all the follies of my youth. ^27-28 You send me to prison and shut me in on every side. I am like a fallen, rotten tree, like a moth-eaten coat.