"Beholdnow,I have preparedmy case;I knowthat I will be vindicated.
Accordingto Your knowledgeI am indeednot guilty,Yet thereis nodeliverancefrom Your hand.
"I ama joketo my friends,The one who calledon Godand He answeredhim; The just[and] blameless[man] is a joke.
"Listencarefullyto my speech,And let my declaration[fill] your ears.
"O that a manmight pleadwith GodAs a manwith his neighbor!
"I would present[my] casebeforeHim And fillmy mouthwith arguments.
"I holdfastmy righteousnessand will not letit go.My heartdoes not reproachanyof my days.
Then thesethreemenceasedansweringJob,becausehe was righteousin his own eyes.
I am pure,withouttransgression;I am innocentand there is noguiltin me.
"For Jobhas said,I am righteous,But Godhas takenawaymy right;
"Desistnow,let there be noinjustice;Even desist,my righteousnessis yetin it.
"ThoughI am righteous,my mouthwill condemnme; Though I am guiltless,He will declareme guilty.
"I am guiltless;I do not takenoticeof myself;I despisemy life.
"PutMe in remembrance,let us argueour casetogether;Stateyour [cause], that you may be provedright.
For our proud confidenceis this:the testimonyof our conscience,that in holinessand godlysincerity,not in fleshlywisdombut in the graceof God,we have conductedourselves in the world,and especiallytowardyou.
