Behold my eye hath seen all these things, and my ear hath heard them, and I have understood them all.

Ecce omnia hæc vidit oculus meus, et audivit auris mea, et intellexi singula.

Eyes nor ears nor wits are wanting to me,

According to your knowledge I also know: neither am I inferior to you.

Secundum scientiam vestram et ego novi: nec inferior vestri sum.

and I know all this as well as you, but I am still a match for you.

But yet I will speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.

Sed tamen ad Omnipotentem loquar, et disputare cum Deo cupio:

Or rather, it is to God, the omnipotent, I will speak; with him I remonstrate;

Having first shewn that you are forgers of lies, and maintainers of perverse opinions.

prius vos ostendens fabricatores mendacii, et cultores perversorum dogmatum.

but first I would prove you what you are, unskilful plasterers all of you, that follow false rules of your craft.

And I wish you would hold your peace, that you might be thought to be wise men.

Atque utinam taceretis, ut putaremini esse sapientes.

Would you but hold your tongues once for all! It were your best wisdom.

Hear ye therefore my reproof, and attend to the judgment of my lips.

Audite ergo correptionem meam, et judicium labiorum meorum attendite.

Listen while I refute you; mark well what are my pleadings.

Hath God any need of your lie, that you should speak deceitfully for him?

Numquid Deus indiget vestro mendacio, ut pro illo loquamini dolos?

Do you think God stands in need of your shifts, your lying advocacy?

Do you accept his person, and do you endeavour to judge for God?

numquid faciem ejus accipitis, et pro Deo judicare nitimini?

Are you God’s hired partisans, resolved to acquit him?

Or shall it please him, from whom nothing can be concealed? or shall he be deceived as a man, with your deceitful dealings?

aut placebit ei quem celare nihil potest? aut decipietur, ut homo, vestris fraudulentiis?

Why then, beware of his own infallible scrutiny; think you he will be blinded, as men are blinded, by your sophistries?

He shall reprove you, because in secret you accept his person.

Ipse vos arguet, quoniam in abscondito faciem ejus accipitis.

Nay, he himself will be the first to blame you for wrongful attachment to his cause;

As soon as he shall move himself, he shall trouble you: and his dread shall fall upon you.

Statim ut se commoverit, turbabit vos, et terror ejus irruet super vos.

your turn, then, to fear every movement of his, to cower before his terrors!

Your remembrance shall be compared to ashes, and your necks shall be brought to clay.

Memoria vestra comparabitur cineri, et redigentur in lutum cervices vestræ.

Your wise memories will vanish into dust, your pride will prove to be a thing of clay.

Hold your peace a little while, that I may speak whatsoever my mind shall suggest to me.

Tacete paulisper, ut loquar quodcumque mihi mens suggesserit.

Nay, hold your tongues for a little, while I say out my mind.

Why do I tear my flesh with my teeth, and carry my soul in my hands?

Quare lacero carnes meas dentibus meis, et animam meam porto in manibus meis?

Do not ask why I set my teeth so firmly, take my life in my hand;

Although he should kill me, I will trust in him: but yet I will reprove my ways in his sight.

Etiam si occiderit me, in ipso sperabo: verumtamen vias meas in conspectu ejus arguam.

let him slay me if he will! I await his decree; needs must that I should make my defence before him,

And he shall be my saviour: for no hypocrite shall come before his presence.

Et ipse erit salvator meus: non enim veniet in conspectu ejus omnis hypocrita.

and spare me he will; let the guilty shun his presence, not I.

Hear ye my speech, and receive with your ears hidden truths.

Audite sermonem meum, et ænigmata percipite auribus vestris.

Nay, hear me out; let me open my mind in full;

If I shall be judged, I know that I shall be found just.

Si fuero judicatus, scio quod justus inveniar.

should I stand my trial, I know that I must be found innocent!

Who is he that will plead against me? let him come: why am I consumed holding my peace?

Quis est qui judicetur mecum? veniat: quare tacens consumor?

Only let me meet my accuser! Why must I die unheard?

Two things only do not to me, and then from thy face I shall not be hid:

Duo tantum ne facias mihi, et tunc a facie tua non abscondar:

But two rights I claim, if I am to face thee openly;

Withdraw thy hand far from me, and let not thy dread terrify me.

manum tuam longe fac a me, et formido tua non me terreat.

withdraw thy chastising hand, and daunt me with thy terrors no longer.

Call me, and I will answer thee: or else I will speak, and do thou answer me.

Voca me, et ego respondebo tibi: aut certe loquar, et tu responde mihi.

Then, if thou wilt call me in question, I will make reply; or let me speak, and be thou ready with thy answer.

How many are my iniquities and sins? make me know my crimes and offences.

Quantas habeo iniquitates et peccata? scelera mea et delicta ostende mihi.

Tell me, what are all these transgressions, these faults thou findest in me? What crime, what wrong-doing is mine?

Why hidest thou thy face, and thinkest me thy enemy?

Cur faciem tuam abscondis, et arbitraris me inimicum tuum?

Why is it that thou turnest thy back on me, and wilt treat me as an enemy?

Against a leaf, that is carried away with the wind, thou shewest thy power, and thou pursuest a dry straw.

Contra folium, quod vento rapitur, ostendis potentiam tuam, et stipulam siccam persequeris:

As well wrestle with a flying leaf, chase a wisp of straw,

For thou writest bitter things against me, and wilt consume me for the sins of my youth.

scribis enim contra me amaritudines, et consumere me vis peccatis adolescentiæ meæ.

as keep this jealous record against me, tax me with the offences of my youth!

Thou hast put my feet in the stocks, and hast observed all my paths, and hast considered the steps of my feet:

Posuisti in nervo pedem meum, et observasti omnes semitas meas, et vestigia pedum meorum considerasti:

To hold me so close a prisoner, watch me wherever I go, track my foot-prints,

Who am to be consumed as rottenness, and as a garment that is moth-eaten.

qui quasi putredo consumendus sum, et quasi vestimentum quod comeditur a tinea.

when I am no better than rotting carrion, than a garment fretted away by the moth!