^3 (A)But I would speak to the Almighty,
And I desire to reason with God.

²¹ “Present your case,” says the Lord.
“Bring forth your strong reasons,” says the ^(A)King of Jacob.

^35 (A)Oh, that I had one to hear me!
Here is my mark.
Oh, ^(B)that the Almighty would answer me,
That my ^[a]Prosecutor had written a book!

²² Then call, and I will ^(A)answer;
Or let me speak, then You respond to me.

³ If one wished to ^[a]contend with Him,
He could not answer Him one time out of a thousand.

^2 (A)Hear, O you mountains, ^(B)the Lord’s complaint,
And you strong foundations of the earth;
For ^(C)the Lord has a complaint against His people,
And He will ^[a]contend with Israel.

12 Righteous ^(A)are You, O Lord, when I plead with You;
Yet let me talk with You about Your judgments.
^(B)Why does the way of the wicked prosper?
Why are those happy who deal so treacherously?
² You have planted them, yes, they have taken root;
They grow, yes, they bear fruit.
^(C)You are near in their mouth
But far from their ^[a]mind.

^3 (A)Oh, that I knew where I might find Him,
That I might come to His seat!
⁴ I would present my case before Him,
And fill my mouth with arguments.
⁵ I would know the words which He would answer me,
And understand what He would say to me.
^6 (B)Would He contend with me in His great power?
No! But He would take note of me.
⁷ There the upright could reason with Him,
And I would be delivered forever from my Judge.