13  “Let me have silence, and I will speak,

and let come on me what may.

14  Why should I take my flesh in my teeth

and put my life in my hand?

15  ^yThough he slay me, I will hope in him;¹

yet I will argue my ways to his face.

16  ^zThis will be my salvation,

that the godless shall not come before him.

17  ^aKeep listening to my words,

and let my declaration be in your ears.

18  Behold, I have prepared my case;

I know that ^bI shall be in the right.

19  Who is there who will contend with me?

For then I would be silent and die.

20  Only grant me two things,

then I will not hide myself from your face:

21  withdraw your hand far from me,

and ^clet not dread of you terrify me.

22  ^dThen call, and I will answer;

or let me speak, and you reply to me.

23  How many are my iniquities and my sins?

Make me know my transgression and my sin.

24  Why do you hide your face

and ^ecount me as your enemy?

25  Will you frighten a driven leaf

and pursue dry chaff?

26  For you write bitter things against me

and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.

27  ^fYou put my feet in the stocks

and watch all my paths;

you set a limit for² the soles of my feet.

28  Man³ wastes away like a ^grotten thing,

like a garment that is ^hmoth-eaten.