New American Standard Bible 1995 | 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. |
2"What 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. |
3"But I would speak to the Almighty, And I desire to argue with God. | 3As for me, I would speak directly to the Almighty. I want to argue my case with God himself. |
4"But you smear with lies; You are all worthless physicians. | 4As for you, you smear me with lies. As physicians, you are worthless quacks. |
5"O that you would be completely silent, And that it would become your wisdom! | 5If only you could be silent! That’s the wisest thing you could do. |
6"Please hear my argument And listen to the contentions of my lips. | 6Listen to my charge; pay attention to my arguments. |
7"Will you speak what is unjust for God, And speak what is deceitful for Him? | 7“Are you defending God with lies? Do you make your dishonest arguments for his sake? |
8"Will you show partiality for Him? Will you contend for God? | 8Will you slant your testimony in his favor? Will you argue God’s case for him? |
9"Will it be well when He examines you? Or will 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? |
10"He will surely reprove you If you secretly show partiality. | 10No, you will be in trouble with him if you secretly slant your testimony in his favor. |
11"Will not His majesty terrify you, And the dread of Him fall on you? | 11Doesn’t his majesty terrify you? Doesn’t your fear of him overwhelm you? |
12"Your memorable sayings 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"Be silent before me so that I may speak; Then let come on me what may. | 13“Be silent now and leave me alone. Let me speak, and I will face the consequences. |
14"Why should I take my flesh in my teeth And put my life in my hands? | 14Why should I put myself in mortal danger and take my life in my own hands? |
15"Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. Nevertheless I will argue my ways before Him. | 15God might kill me, but I have no other hope. I am going to argue my case with him. |
16"This also will be my salvation, For a godless man may not come before His presence. | 16But this is what will save me—I am not godless. If I were, I could not stand before him. |
17"Listen carefully to my speech, And let my declaration fill your ears. | 17“Listen closely to what I am about to say. Hear me out. |
18"Behold now, I have prepared my case; I know that I will be vindicated. | 18I have prepared my case; I will be proved innocent. |
19"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 |
20"Only two things do not do to me, Then I will not hide from Your face: | 20“O God, grant me these two things, and then I will be able to face you. |
21Remove Your hand from me, And let not the dread of You terrify me. | 21Remove your heavy hand from me, and don’t terrify me with your awesome presence. |
22"Then call, and I will answer; Or let me speak, then reply to me. | 22Now summon me, and I will answer! Or let me speak to you, and you reply. |
23"How many are my iniquities and sins? Make known to me my rebellion and my sin. | 23Tell me, what have I done wrong? Show me my rebellion and my sin. |
24"Why do You hide Your face And consider me Your enemy? | 24Why do you turn away from me? Why do you treat me as your enemy? |
25"Will You cause a driven leaf to tremble? Or will You pursue the dry chaff? | 25Would you terrify a leaf blown by the wind? Would you chase dry straw? |
26"For You write bitter things against me And make me to inherit the iniquities of my youth. | 26“You write bitter accusations against me and bring up all the sins of my youth. |
27"You 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. |
28While I am decaying like a rotten thing, Like a garment that is moth-eaten. | 28I waste away like rotting wood, like a moth-eaten coat. |
New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org | 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. |
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