15  Though ^wI am in the right, I cannot answer him;

^xI must appeal for mercy to my accuser.¹

20  Though I am in the right, my own mouth would condemn me;

though I am blameless, he would prove me perverse.

21  I am blameless; I regard not myself;

^cI loathe my life.

7  although you know that I am not guilty,

and there is none to deliver out of your hand?

18  Behold, I have prepared my case;

I know that ^bI shall be in the right.

2  “Today also my ^scomplaint is bitter;¹

^tmy hand is heavy on account of my groaning.

3  ^uOh, that I knew where I might find him,

that I might come even to his seat!

4  ^vI would lay my case before him

and fill my mouth with arguments.

5  I would know what he would answer me

and understand what he would say to me.

6  Would he ^wcontend with me in the greatness of his power?

No; he would pay attention to me.

7  There an upright man could argue with him,

and I would be acquitted forever by my judge.

10  But ^yhe knows the way that I take;

when he has ^ztried me, I shall come out as gold.

11  ^aMy foot has held fast to his steps;

I have kept his way and have not turned aside.

12  I have not departed from the commandment of his lips;

I have ^btreasured the words of his mouth ^cmore than my portion of food.

5  Far be it from me to say that you are right;

^gtill I die I will not put away my ^hintegrity from me.

6  ⁱI hold fast my righteousness and will not let it go;

my heart does not reproach me for any of my days.

35  ^gOh, that I had one to hear me!

(Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!)

Oh, that I had the indictment written by my adversary!

36  Surely I would carry it on my shoulder;

I would bind it on me as a crown;

37  I would give him an account of all my steps;

like a prince I would approach him.