13 “Behold, my eye has seen all this,
My ear has heard and understood it.
^2 (A)What you know, I also know;
I am not inferior to you.
^3 (B)But I would speak to the Almighty,
And I desire to reason with God.
⁴ But you forgers of lies,
^(C)You are all worthless physicians.
⁵ Oh, that you would be silent,
And ^(D)it would be your wisdom!
⁶ Now hear my reasoning,
And heed the pleadings of my lips.
^7 (E)Will you speak ^[a]wickedly for God,
And talk deceitfully for Him?
⁸ Will you show partiality for Him?
Will you contend for God?
⁹ Will it be well when He searches you out?
Or can you mock Him as one mocks a man?
¹⁰ He will surely rebuke you
If you secretly show partiality.
¹¹ Will not His ^[b]excellence make you afraid,
And the dread of Him fall upon you?
¹² Your platitudes are proverbs of ashes,
Your defenses are defenses of clay.

²⁰ “Only^(L) two things do not do to me,
Then I will not hide myself from You:
^21 (M)Withdraw Your hand far from me,
And let not the dread of You make me afraid.
²² Then call, and I will ^(N)answer;
Or let me speak, then You respond to me.
²³ How many are my iniquities and sins?
Make me know my transgression and my sin.
^24 (O)Why do You hide Your face,
And ^(P)regard me as Your enemy?
^25 (Q)Will You frighten a leaf driven to and fro?
And will You pursue dry stubble?
²⁶ For You write bitter things against me,
And ^(R)make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.
^27 (S)You put my feet in the stocks,
And watch closely all my paths.
You ^[d]set a limit for the ^[e]soles of my feet.