| English Standard Version | New International Version |
| 1“Behold, my eye has seen all this, my ear has heard and understood it. | 1"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. | 2What 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. | 3But I desire to speak to the Almighty and to argue my case with God. |
| 4As for you, you whitewash with lies; worthless physicians are you all. | 4You, however, smear me with lies; you are worthless physicians, all of you! |
| 5Oh that you would keep silent, and it would be your wisdom! | 5If only you would be altogether silent! For you, that would be wisdom. |
| 6Hear now my argument and listen to the pleadings of my lips. | 6Hear now my argument; listen to the pleas of my lips. |
| 7Will you speak falsely for God and speak deceitfully for him? | 7Will you speak wickedly on God's behalf? Will you speak deceitfully for him? |
| 8Will you show partiality toward him? Will you plead the case for God? | 8Will you show him partiality? Will you argue the case for God? |
| 9Will it be well with you when he searches you out? Or can you deceive him, as one deceives a man? | 9Would it turn out well if he examined you? Could you deceive him as you might deceive a mortal? |
| 10He will surely rebuke you if in secret you show partiality. | 10He would surely call you to account if you secretly showed partiality. |
| 11Will not his majesty terrify you, and the dread of him fall upon you? | 11Would not his splendor terrify you? Would not the dread of him fall on you? |
| 12Your maxims are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay. | 12Your maxims are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay. |
| 13“Let me have silence, and I will speak, and let come on me what may. | 13"Keep silent and let me speak; then let come to me what may. |
| 14Why should I take my flesh in my teeth and put my life in my hand? | 14Why do I put myself in jeopardy and take my life in my hands? |
| 15Though he slay me, I will hope in him; yet I will argue my ways to his face. | 15Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face. |
| 16This will be my salvation, that the godless shall not come before him. | 16Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance, for no godless person would dare come before him! |
| 17Keep listening to my words, and let my declaration be in your ears. | 17Listen carefully to what I say; let my words ring in your ears. |
| 18Behold, I have prepared my case; I know that I shall be in the right. | 18Now that I have prepared my case, I know I will be vindicated. |
| 19Who is there who will contend with me? For then I would be silent and die. | 19Can anyone bring charges against me? If so, I will be silent and die. |
| 20Only grant me two things, then I will not hide myself from your face: | 20"Only grant me these two things, God, and then I will not hide from you: |
| 21withdraw your hand far from me, and let not dread of you terrify me. | 21Withdraw your hand far from me, and stop frightening me with your terrors. |
| 22Then call, and I will answer; or let me speak, and you reply to me. | 22Then summon me and I will answer, or let me speak, and you reply to me. |
| 23How many are my iniquities and my sins? Make me know my transgression and my sin. | 23How many wrongs and sins have I committed? Show me my offense and my 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 torment a windblown leaf? Will you chase after dry chaff? |
| 26For you write bitter things against me and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth. | 26For you write down bitter things against me and make me reap the sins 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 fasten my feet in shackles; you keep close watch on all my paths by putting marks on the soles of my feet. |
| 28Man wastes away like a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten. | 28"So man wastes away like something rotten, like a garment eaten by moths. |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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