Men of understanding say to me – any wise man listening to me says –

thus I have been made to inherit months of futility, and nights of sorrow have been appointed to me.

“I will explain to you; listen to me, and what I have seen, I will declare,

My spirit is broken, my days have faded out, the grave awaits me.

“People listened to me and waited silently; they kept silent for my advice.

They waited for me as people wait for the rain, and they opened their mouths as for the spring rains.

You have become cruel to me; with the strength of your hand you attack me.

I will speak, so that I may find relief; I will open my lips, so that I may answer.

“Listen to my words, you wise men; hear me, you learned men.

“If only I had someone to hear me! Here is my signature – let the Almighty answer me! If only I had an indictment that my accuser had written.

For now I would be lying down and would be quiet, I would be asleep and then at peace

For the very thing I dreaded has happened to me, and what I feared has come upon me.

“Have I ever said, ‘Give me something, and from your fortune make gifts in my favor’?

“Teach me and I, for my part, will be silent; explain to me how I have been mistaken.

How many are my iniquities and sins? Show me my transgression and my sin.

These ten times you have been reproaching me; you are not ashamed to attack me!

I would know with what words he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me.

Moreover, the strength of their hands – what use was it to me? Men whose strength had perished;

Surely I would wear it proudly on my shoulder, I would bind it on me like a crown;

Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me. I, even I, will explain what I know.’