⁷ “I cry out, ‘Help!’ but no one answers me.
    I protest, but there is no justice.

⁸ And though I cry and shout,
    he has shut out my prayers.

²⁰ “I cry to you, O God, but you don’t answer.
    I stand before you, but you don’t even look.

² Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer.
    Every night I lift my voice, but I find no relief.

⁸ “Will you discredit my justice
    and condemn me just to prove you are right?

⁵ For Job also said, ‘I am innocent,
    but God has taken away my rights.

³⁵ “If only someone would listen to me!
    Look, I will sign my name to my defense.
Let the Almighty answer me.
    Let my accuser write out the charges against me.
³⁶ I would face the accusation proudly.
    I would wear it like a crown.

³ If only I knew where to find God,
    I would go to his court.
⁴ I would lay out my case
    and present my arguments.
⁵ Then I would listen to his reply
    and understand what he says to me.
⁶ Would he use his great power to argue with me?
    No, he would give me a fair hearing.
⁷ Honest people can reason with him,
    so I would be forever acquitted by my judge.