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¹⁵Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him;

But I will argue my ways before Him.

¹⁶This also shall be my salvation,

That a hypocrite cannot come before Him.

¹⁷Hear diligently my speech,

And let my declaration be in your ears.

¹⁸Behold now, I have ordered my cause;

I know that I shall be justified.

¹⁹Who is he that will contend with me?

For then would I hold my peace and die.

 

²⁰Only do not two things unto me,

Then will I not hide myself from Thee:

²¹Withdraw Thy hand far from me;

And let not Thy terror make me afraid.

²²Then call Thou, and I will answer;

Or let me speak, and answer Thou me.

²³How many are mine iniquities and sins?

Make me to know my transgression and my sin.

²⁴Wherefore hidest Thou Thy face,

And holdest me for Thine enemy?

²⁵Wilt Thou harass a driven leaf?

And wilt Thou pursue the dry stubble?

²⁶That Thou shouldest write bitter things against me,

And make me to inherit the iniquities of my youth.

²⁷Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks,

And lookest narrowly unto all my paths;

Thou drawest Thee a line about the soles of my feet;

²⁸Though I am like a wine-skin that consumeth,

Like a garment that is moth-eaten.

14 Man that is born of a woman

Is of few days, and full of trouble.

²He cometh forth like a flower, and withereth;

He fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.

³And dost Thou open Thine eyes upon such a one,

And bringest me into judgment with Thee?

⁴Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.

⁵Seeing his days are determined,

The number of his months is with Thee,

And Thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;

⁶Look away from him, that he may rest,

Till he shall accomplish, as a hireling, his day.

 

⁷For there is hope of a tree,

If it be cut down, that it will sprout again,

And that the tender branch thereof will not cease.

⁸Though the root thereof wax old in the earth,

And the stock thereof die in the ground;

⁹Yet through the scent of water it will bud,

And put forth boughs like a plant.

¹⁰But man dieth, and lieth low;

Yea, man perisheth, and where is he?

¹¹As the waters fail from the sea,

And the river is drained dry;

¹²So man lieth down and riseth not;

Till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake,

Nor be roused out of their sleep.

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