English Standard Version

New Living Translation

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

1“Look, I have seen all this with my own eyes and heard it with my own ears, and now I understand.

2What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you.

2I know as much as you do. You are no better than I am.

3But I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to argue my case with God.

3As for me, I would speak directly to the Almighty. I want to argue my case with God himself.

4As for you, you whitewash with lies; worthless physicians are you all.

4As for you, you smear me with lies. As physicians, you are worthless quacks.

5Oh that you would keep silent, and it would be your wisdom!

5If only you could be silent! That’s the wisest thing you could do.

6Hear now my argument and listen to the pleadings of my lips.

6Listen to my charge; pay attention to my arguments.

7Will you speak falsely for God and speak deceitfully for him?

7“Are you defending God with lies? Do you make your dishonest arguments for his sake?

8Will you show partiality toward him? Will you plead the case for God?

8Will you slant your testimony in his favor? Will you argue God’s case for him?

9Will it be well with you when he searches you out? Or can you deceive him, as one deceives a man?

9What will happen when he finds out what you are doing? Can you fool him as easily as you fool people?

10He will surely rebuke you if in secret you show partiality.

10No, you will be in trouble with him if you secretly slant your testimony in his favor.

11Will not his majesty terrify you, and the dread of him fall upon you?

11Doesn’t his majesty terrify you? Doesn’t your fear of him overwhelm you?

12Your maxims are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay.

12Your platitudes are as valuable as ashes. Your defense is as fragile as a clay pot.

13“Let me have silence, and I will speak, and let come on me what may.

13“Be silent now and leave me alone. Let me speak, and I will face the consequences.

14Why should I take my flesh in my teeth and put my life in my hand?

14Why should I put myself in mortal danger 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.

15God might kill me, but I have no other hope. I am going to argue my case with him.

16This will be my salvation, that the godless shall not come before him.

16But this is what will save me—I am not godless. If I were, I could not stand before him.

17Keep listening to my words, and let my declaration be in your ears.

17“Listen closely to what I am about to say. Hear me out.

18Behold, I have prepared my case; I know that I shall be in the right.

18I have prepared my case; I will be proved innocent.

19Who is there who will contend with me? For then I would be silent and die.

19Who can argue with me over this? And if you prove me wrong, I will remain silent and die. Job Asks How He Has Sinned

20Only grant me two things, then I will not hide myself from your face:

20“O God, grant me these two things, and then I will be able to face you.

21withdraw your hand far from me, and let not dread of you terrify me.

21Remove your heavy hand from me, and don’t terrify me with your awesome presence.

22Then call, and I will answer; or let me speak, and you reply to me.

22Now summon me, and I will answer! Or let me speak to you, and you reply.

23How many are my iniquities and my sins? Make me know my transgression and my sin.

23Tell me, what have I done wrong? Show me my rebellion and my sin.

24Why do you hide your face and count me as your enemy?

24Why do you turn away from me? Why do you treat me as your enemy?

25Will you frighten a driven leaf and pursue dry chaff?

25Would you terrify a leaf blown by the wind? Would you chase dry straw?

26For you write bitter things against me and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.

26“You write bitter accusations against me and bring up all 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 put my feet in stocks. You examine all my paths. You trace all my footprints.

28Man wastes away like a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten.

28I waste away like rotting wood, like a moth-eaten coat.

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.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.