¹⁴ “How then can I dispute with him?
    How can I find words to argue with him?^(A)
15 Though I were innocent, I could not answer him;^(B)
    I could only plead^(C) with my Judge^(D) for mercy.^(E)

¹³ “Keep silent^(A) and let me speak;^(B)
    then let come to me what may.^(C)
14 Why do I put myself in jeopardy
    and take my life in my hands?^(D)
15 Though he slay me, yet will I hope^(E) in him;^(F)
    I will surely^[a] defend my ways to his face.^(G)
16 Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance,^(H)
    for no godless^(I) person would dare come before him!^(J)
17 Listen carefully to what I say;^(K)
    let my words ring in your ears.
¹⁸ Now that I have prepared my case,^(L)
    I know I will be vindicated.^(M)
19 Can anyone bring charges against me?^(N)
    If so, I will be silent^(O) and die.^(P)

²⁰ “Only grant me these two things, God,
    and then I will not hide from you:
²¹ Withdraw your hand^(Q) far from me,
    and stop frightening me with your terrors.^(R)
22 Then summon me and I will answer,^(S)
    or let me speak, and you reply to me.^(T)
23 How many wrongs and sins have I committed?^(U)
    Show me my offense and my sin.^(V)
24 Why do you hide your face^(W)
    and consider me your enemy?^(X)
25 Will you torment^(Y) a windblown leaf?^(Z)
    Will you chase^(AA) after dry chaff?^(AB)
26 For you write down bitter things against me
    and make me reap the sins of my youth.^(AC)
27 You fasten my feet in shackles;^(AD)
    you keep close watch on all my paths^(AE)
    by putting marks on the soles of my feet.

²⁸ “So man wastes away like something rotten,
    like a garment^(AF) eaten by moths.^(AG)

² “Even today my complaint^(A) is bitter;^(B)
    his hand^[a] is heavy in spite of^[b] my groaning.^(C)
3 If only I knew where to find him;
    if only I could go to his dwelling!^(D)
4 I would state my case^(E) before him
    and fill my mouth with arguments.^(F)
5 I would find out what he would answer me,^(G)
    and consider what he would say to me.
⁶ Would he vigorously oppose me?^(H)
    No, he would not press charges against me.^(I)
7 There the upright^(J) can establish their innocence before him,^(K)
    and there I would be delivered forever from my judge.^(L)

⁸ “But if I go to the east, he is not there;
    if I go to the west, I do not find him.
⁹ When he is at work in the north, I do not see him;
    when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him.^(M)
10 But he knows the way that I take;^(N)
    when he has tested me,^(O) I will come forth as gold.^(P)
11 My feet have closely followed his steps;^(Q)
    I have kept to his way without turning aside.^(R)
12 I have not departed from the commands of his lips;^(S)
    I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.^(T)

¹³ “But he stands alone, and who can oppose him?^(U)
    He does whatever he pleases.^(V)
14 He carries out his decree against me,
    and many such plans he still has in store.^(W)
15 That is why I am terrified before him;^(X)
    when I think of all this, I fear him.^(Y)
16 God has made my heart faint;^(Z)
    the Almighty^(AA) has terrified me.^(AB)
17 Yet I am not silenced by the darkness,^(AC)
    by the thick darkness that covers my face.