³ Brace yourself like a man,
    because I have some questions for you,
    and you must answer them.

⁷ “Brace yourself like a man,
    because I have some questions for you,
    and you must answer them.

¹⁷ “Get up and prepare for action.
    Go out and tell them everything I tell you to say.
Do not be afraid of them,
    or I will make you look foolish in front of them.

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.
³⁷ For I would tell him exactly what I have done.
    I would come before him like a prince.

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.

¹⁵ God might kill me, but I have no other hope.^[a]
    I am going to argue my case with him.