1 “ Behold, my eye has seen all this. My ear has heard and understood it.

“See, my eye has seen all this. My ear has heard and understood it.

2 W hat you know, I know also. I am not inferior to you.

What you know I also know. I am not less than you.

3 “ Surely I would speak to the Almighty. I desire to reason with God.

“But I wish to speak to the All-powerful. I want to argue with God.

4 B ut you are forgers of lies. You are all physicians of no value.

But you cover things with lies. You are doctors of no worth.

5 O h that you would be completely silent! Then you would be wise.

If only you would be quiet, and that would show your wisdom!

6 H ear now my reasoning. Listen to the pleadings of my lips.

Hear what I think. Listen to the arguing of my lips.

7 W ill you speak unrighteously for God, and talk deceitfully for him?

Will you say what is not true for God? Will you lie for Him?

8 W ill you show partiality to him? Will you contend for God?

Will you show favor for Him? Will you argue for God?

9 I s it good that he should search you out? Or as one deceives a man, will you deceive him?

Will it be well when He tests you? Or do you lie to Him as one lies to a man?

10 H e will surely reprove you if you secretly show partiality.

For sure He will speak strong words to you if you show favor in secret.

11 S hall not his majesty make you afraid, And his dread fall on you?

Will not His great power make you afraid? Will not the fear of Him come upon you?

12 Y our memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes, Your defenses are defenses of clay.

Your wise sayings are sayings of ashes. Your strength is the strength of clay.

13 “ Be silent, leave me alone, that I may speak. Let come on me what will.

“Be quiet so that I may speak. Then let come on me what will.

14 W hy should I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand?

Why should I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hands?

15 B ehold, he will kill me. I have no hope. Nevertheless, I will maintain my ways before him.

Even though He would kill me, yet I will trust in Him. I will argue my ways to His face.

16 T his also shall be my salvation, that a godless man shall not come before him.

This will save me, for a sinful man may not come to Him.

17 H ear diligently my speech. Let my declaration be in your ears.

Be careful to listen to my words. Let what I say fill your ears.

18 S ee now, I have set my cause in order. I know that I am righteous.

See, I am ready to tell everything, and all will know I am right.

19 W ho is he who will contend with me? For then would I hold my peace and give up the spirit.

Who will talk against me? For then I would be quiet and die.

20 “ Only don’t do two things to me; then I will not hide myself from your face:

“Only two things I ask of You, and then I will not hide from Your face.

21 w ithdraw your hand far from me; and don’t let your terror make me afraid.

Take Your hand from me, and do not let the fear of You make me so afraid.

22 T hen call, and I will answer; or let me speak, and you answer me.

Then call, and I will answer. Or let me speak, and You answer me.

23 H ow many are my iniquities and sins? Make me know my disobedience and my sin.

How many are my sins and wrong-doings? Help me to know my wrong-doing and sin.

24 W hy hide you your face, and hold me for your enemy?

Why do You hide Your face, and think of me as one who hates You?

25 W ill you harass a driven leaf? Will you pursue the dry stubble?

Will You make a wind-blown leaf afraid? Will You go after the dry parts of a grain-field that have no worth?

26 F or you write bitter things against me, and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth:

For You write bitter things against me. You punish me for the sins I did when I was young.

27 Y ou also put my feet in the stocks, and mark all my paths. You set a bound to the soles of my feet,

You put chains on my feet, and watch everything I do. You let me walk only so far.

28 t hough I am decaying like a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten.

I am wasting away like a piece of dead wood, like clothing eaten by the moth.