Chapter XIII.
Behold, my eyes have seen all these things, and my ears have heard them, and I have understood each one. According to your knowledge, I also know: I am not inferior to you. But nevertheless, I will speak to the Almighty and desire to argue with God, first showing you the makers of falsehood and the followers of perverse doctrines. And I wish you would be silent, that you might be considered wise. Therefore, listen to my rebukes and pay attention to the judgment of my lips. Does God need your deception, that you speak deceit for Him? Do you accept His face and strive to judge for God? Will He be pleased with someone who can hide nothing? Will He be deceived, like a man, by your fraudulent ways? There were deceptions in them, for they struck Him to the heart with consoling words.
He himself will reprove you, because you receive his face in secret. As soon as he stirs himself, he will trouble you, and his terror will rush upon you. Your memory will be compared to ashes, and your necks will be reduced to mud. Be silent for a moment, so that I may speak whatever my mind suggests to me. You are worthy to be reproved by God: you hide his face in you, that is, as if he were ignorant of it, you receive his person in order to condemn me. As if anything could be hidden from him, so that you would want to deceive him.
Why do I tear my own flesh with my own teeth? Tormented by excessive agony, he would tear his own hands or lips with his teeth.
And I carry my soul in my hands. Even if it kills me, I will hope in Him. Yet I will argue my ways in His presence, and He Himself will be my savior. For not every hypocrite will come before Him. Hear my words, and perceive the riddles with your ears. If I am judged, I know that I will be found just. Who is there to contend with me? Let him come. Why am I consumed in silence? Only do not do two things to me, then I will not hide from your face. Keep your hand far from me, and let not your fear terrify me. Call me, and I will answer you; or let me speak, and you respond to me. The amount of my iniquities and sins is great. She says that life itself, which is usually called the soul, carries itself in its hands: now, with the soul failing and departing, I carry it as if it were to be carried out.
Show me my crimes and sins. So that I may know why I am tortured like this.
Why do you hide your face and consider me your enemy? Like a leaf that is blown away by the wind, you show your power, and you pursue dry straw. For you write bitter things against me, and you seek to consume me with the sins of my youth. You have put my feet in stocks and closely watch all my paths, examining every footstep. I am being consumed like rotten wood, like a garment that is eaten by moths. While you allow me to be punished in this way, whom you believe to be like an enemy, it grieves me that you yourself know very well that harm should be done to those who opposed you instead.