1
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Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it.
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2
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What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you.
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3
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Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.
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4
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But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.
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5
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O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.
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6
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Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.
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7
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Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?
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8
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Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God?
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9
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Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him?
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10
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He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.
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11
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Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you?
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12
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Your remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.
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13
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Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.
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14
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Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?
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15
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Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
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16
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He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.
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17
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Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.
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18
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Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.
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19
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Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.
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20
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Only do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from thee.
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21
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Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid.
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22
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Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me.
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23
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How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin.
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24
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Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy?
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25
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Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?
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26
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For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth.
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27
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Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet.
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28
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And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth eaten.
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