Why do I put myself in peril, and take my life in my hands?

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

What do you know that we don’t know? What do you understand that we don’t understand?

What is man that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous?

Will there be an end to your windy words? Or what provokes you that you answer?

Why do you pursue me like God does? Will you never be satiated with my flesh?

For what is his interest in his home after his death, when the number of his months has been broken off?

But you have said, ‘What does God know? Does he judge through such deep darkness?

They were saying to God, ‘Turn away from us,’ and ‘What can the Almighty do to us?’

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

“How you have helped the powerless! How you have saved the person who has no strength!

How you have advised the one without wisdom, and abundantly revealed your insight!

If you yourselves have all seen this, Why in the world do you continue this meaningless talk?

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

“I made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I entertain thoughts against a virgin?

What then would be one’s lot from God above, one’s heritage from the Almighty on high?

Let us evaluate for ourselves what is right; let us come to know among ourselves what is good.

Tell us what we should say to him. We cannot prepare a case because of the darkness.

“Indeed, I am completely unworthy – how could I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth to silence myself.

Will you never look away from me, will you not let me alone long enough to swallow my spittle?