⁵ If only God would speak;
    if only he would tell you what he thinks!

² “Who is this that questions my wisdom
    with such ignorant words?

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

² “Do you still want to argue with the Almighty?
    You are God’s critic, but do you have the answers?”

⁴ “I am nothing—how could I ever find the answers?
    I will cover my mouth with my hand.
⁵ I have said too much already.
    I have nothing more to say.”

⁸ “You have spoken in my hearing,
    and I have heard your very words.
⁹ You said, ‘I am pure; I am without sin;
    I am innocent; I have no guilt.
¹⁰ God is picking a quarrel with me,
    and he considers me his enemy.
¹¹ He puts my feet in the stocks
    and watches my every move.’

¹² “But you are wrong, and I will show you why.
    For God is greater than any human being.
¹³ So why are you bringing a charge against him?
    Why say he does not respond to people’s complaints?
¹⁴ For God speaks again and again,
    though people do not recognize it.
¹⁵ He speaks in dreams, in visions of the night,
    when deep sleep falls on people
    as they lie in their beds.
¹⁶ He whispers in their ears
    and terrifies them with warnings.
¹⁷ He makes them turn from doing wrong;
    he keeps them from pride.
¹⁸ He protects them from the grave,
    from crossing over the river of death.

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.

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.