| English Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1“Behold, my eye has seen all this, my ear has heard and understood it. | 1Look, my eyes have seen all this; my ears have heard and understood it. |
| 2What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you. | 2Everything you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you. |
| 3But I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to argue my case with God. | 3Yet I prefer to speak to the Almighty and argue my case before God. |
| 4As for you, you whitewash with lies; worthless physicians are you all. | 4But you coat the truth with lies; you are all worthless doctors. |
| 5Oh that you would keep silent, and it would be your wisdom! | 5If only you would shut up and let that be your wisdom! |
| 6Hear now my argument and listen to the pleadings of my lips. | 6Hear now my argument, and listen to my defense. |
| 7Will you speak falsely for God and speak deceitfully for him? | 7Would you testify unjustly on God's behalf or speak deceitfully for Him? |
| 8Will you show partiality toward him? Will you plead the case for God? | 8Would you show partiality to Him or argue the case in His defense? |
| 9Will it be well with you when he searches you out? Or can you deceive him, as one deceives a man? | 9Would it go well if He examined you? Could you deceive Him as you would deceive a man? |
| 10He will surely rebuke you if in secret you show partiality. | 10Surely He would rebuke you if you secretly showed partiality. |
| 11Will not his majesty terrify you, and the dread of him fall upon you? | 11Would God's majesty not terrify you? Would His dread not fall on you? |
| 12Your maxims are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay. | 12Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ash; your defenses are made of clay. |
| 13“Let me have silence, and I will speak, and let come on me what may. | 13Be quiet, and I will speak. Let whatever comes happen to me. |
| 14Why should I take my flesh in my teeth and put my life in my hand? | 14Why do I put myself at risk and take my life in my own hands? |
| 15Though he slay me, I will hope in him; yet I will argue my ways to his face. | 15Even if He kills me, I will hope in Him. I will still defend my ways before Him. |
| 16This will be my salvation, that the godless shall not come before him. | 16Yes, this will result in my deliverance, for no godless person can appear before Him. |
| 17Keep listening to my words, and let my declaration be in your ears. | 17Pay close attention to my words; let my declaration ring in your ears. |
| 18Behold, I have prepared my case; I know that I shall be in the right. | 18Now then, I have prepared my case; I know that I am right. |
| 19Who is there who will contend with me? For then I would be silent and die. | 19Can anyone indict me? If so, I will be silent and die. |
| 20Only grant me two things, then I will not hide myself from your face: | 20Only grant these two things to me, God, so that I will not have to hide from Your presence: |
| 21withdraw your hand far from me, and let not dread of you terrify me. | 21remove Your hand from me, and do not let Your terror frighten me. |
| 22Then call, and I will answer; or let me speak, and you reply to me. | 22Then call, and I will answer, or I will speak, and You can respond to me. |
| 23How many are my iniquities and my sins? Make me know my transgression and my sin. | 23How many iniquities and sins have I committed? Reveal to me my transgression and sin. |
| 24Why do you hide your face and count me as your enemy? | 24Why do You hide Your face and consider me Your enemy? |
| 25Will you frighten a driven leaf and pursue dry chaff? | 25Will You frighten a wind-driven leaf? Will You chase after dry straw? |
| 26For you write bitter things against me and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth. | 26For You record bitter accusations against me and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth. |
| 27You put my feet in the stocks and watch all my paths; you set a limit for the soles of my feet. | 27You put my feet in the stocks and stand watch over all my paths, setting a limit for the soles of my feet. |
| 28Man wastes away like a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten. | 28Man wears out like something rotten, like a moth-eaten garment. |
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