Speak first, O God, and I will answer. Or let me speak, and you answer me.

Stop punishing me, God! Keep your terrors away!

I am not afraid. I am going to talk because I know my own heart.

How I wish God would answer you!

How I wish I knew where to find him, and knew how to go where he is.

I want to know what he would say and how he would answer me.

I am honest; I could reason with God; he would declare me innocent once and for all.

Will no one listen to what I am saying? I swear that every word is true. Let Almighty God answer me. If the charges my opponent brings against me were written down so that I could see them,

How can anyone argue with him? He can ask a thousand questions that no one could ever answer.

So how can I find words to answer God?

Though I am innocent, all I can do is beg for mercy from God my judge.

The LORD says, "Now, let's settle the matter. You are stained red with sin, but I will wash you as clean as snow. Although your stains are deep red, you will be as white as wool.

But if you defy me, you are doomed to die. I, the LORD, have spoken."

The LORD, the king of Israel, has this to say: "You gods of the nations, present your case. Bring the best arguments you have!

" LORD, if I argued my case with you, you would prove to be right. Yet I must question you about matters of justice. Why are the wicked so prosperous? Why do dishonest people succeed?

You plant them, and they take root; they grow and bear fruit. They always speak well of you, yet they do not really care about you.

You mountains, you everlasting foundations of the earth, listen to the LORD's case! The LORD has a case against his people. He is going to bring an accusation against Israel.