But my dispute is with God, not you; I want to argue my case with him.

I want someone to plead with God for me, as one pleads for a friend.

Job, you challenged Almighty God; will you give up now, or will you answer?

I spoke foolishly, LORD. What can I answer? I will not try to say anything else.

I have already said more than I should.

We follow your will and put our hope in you; you are all that we desire.

My people cry out to me, 'Even though our sins accuse us, help us, LORD, as you have promised. We have turned away from you many times; we have sinned against you.

Turn to the LORD and pray to him, now that he is near.

Let the wicked leave their way of life and change their way of thinking. Let them turn to the LORD, our God; he is merciful and quick to forgive.

Our message is that God was making all human beings his friends through Christ. God did not keep an account of their sins, and he has given us the message which tells how he makes them his friends.

Here we are, then, speaking for Christ, as though God himself were making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ's behalf: let God change you from enemies into his friends!

Those who first heard the Good News did not receive that rest, because they did not believe. There are, then, others who are allowed to receive it.

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,

I would tell God everything I have done, and hold my head high in his presence.