⁵ Oh, how I wish that God would speak,^(A)
    that he would open his lips against you

² “Who is this that obscures my plans^(C)
    with words without knowledge?^(D)

⁸ “Would you discredit my justice?^(A)
    Would you condemn me to justify yourself?^(B)

² “Will the one who contends with the Almighty^(B) correct him?^(C)
    Let him who accuses God answer him!”^(D)

⁴ “I am unworthy^(E)—how can I reply to you?
    I put my hand over my mouth.^(F)
5 I spoke once, but I have no answer^(G)—
    twice, but I will say no more.”^(H)

⁶ I am the same as you in God’s sight;^(A)
    I too am a piece of clay.^(B)
7 No fear of me should alarm you,
    nor should my hand be heavy on you.^(C)

⁸ “But you have said in my hearing—
    I heard the very words—
⁹ ‘I am pure,^(D) I have done no wrong;^(E)
    I am clean and free from sin.^(F)
10 Yet God has found fault with me;
    he considers me his enemy.^(G)
11 He fastens my feet in shackles;^(H)
    he keeps close watch on all my paths.’^(I)

¹² “But I tell you, in this you are not right,
    for God is greater than any mortal.^(J)
13 Why do you complain to him^(K)
    that he responds to no one’s words^[a]?^(L)
14 For God does speak^(M)—now one way, now another^(N)—
    though no one perceives it.^(O)
15 In a dream,^(P) in a vision^(Q) of the night,^(R)
    when deep sleep^(S) falls on people
    as they slumber in their beds,
¹⁶ he may speak^(T) in their ears
    and terrify them^(U) with warnings,^(V)
17 to turn them from wrongdoing
    and keep them from pride,^(W)
18 to preserve them from the pit,^(X)
    their lives from perishing by the sword.^[b](Y)

³⁵ (“Oh, that I had someone to hear me!^(A)
    I sign now my defense—let the Almighty answer me;
    let my accuser^(B) put his indictment in writing.

³ If only I knew where to find him;
    if only I could go to his dwelling!^(A)
4 I would state my case^(B) before him
    and fill my mouth with arguments.^(C)
5 I would find out what he would answer me,^(D)
    and consider what he would say to me.
⁶ Would he vigorously oppose me?^(E)
    No, he would not press charges against me.^(F)
7 There the upright^(G) can establish their innocence before him,^(H)
    and there I would be delivered forever from my judge.^(I)