Produce your cause, saith the LORD; bring forth your strong {reasons}, saith the King of Jacob. {Produce: Heb. Cause to come near}

If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.

Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me.

Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire {is, that} the Almighty would answer me, and {that} mine adversary had written a book. {my...: or, my sign is that the Almighty will}

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:

Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. {maintain: Heb. prove, or, argue}

Hear ye, O mountains, the LORD'S controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the LORD hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel.

Oh that I knew where I might find him! {that} I might come {even} to his seat!

Righteous {art} thou, O LORD, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of {thy} judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? {wherefore} are all they happy that deal very treacherously? {talk...: or, reason the case with thee}

How much less shall I answer him, {and} choose out my words {to reason} with him?

But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;

There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.

O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man {pleadeth} for his neighbour! {neighbour: or, friend}

Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire {is, that} the Almighty would answer me, and {that} mine adversary had written a book. {my...: or, my sign is that the Almighty will}

Righteous {art} thou, O LORD, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of {thy} judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? {wherefore} are all they happy that deal very treacherously? {talk...: or, reason the case with thee}

Oh that I knew where I might find him! {that} I might come {even} to his seat!

Teach us what we shall say unto him; {for} we cannot order {our speech} by reason of darkness.

Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.

Behold, I {am} according to thy wish in God's stead: I also am formed out of the clay. {wish: Heb. mouth} {formed: Heb. cut}