King James Bible

New Living Translation

1Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath 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 ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you.

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

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

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

4But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.

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

5O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.

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

6Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.

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

7Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?

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

8Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God?

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

9Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him?

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

10He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.

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

11Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you?

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

12Your remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.

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

13Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.

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

14Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?

14Why should I put myself in mortal danger and take my life in my own hands?

15Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

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

16He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite 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.

17Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.

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

18Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.

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

19Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.

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 do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from thee.

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

21Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid.

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

22Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me.

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

23How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin.

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

24Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy?

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

25Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?

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

26For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth.

26“You write bitter accusations against me and bring up all the sins of my youth.

27Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet.

27You put my feet in stocks. You examine all my paths. You trace all my footprints.

28And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth eaten.

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

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

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.