| New International Version | NET Bible |
| 1"My eyes have seen all this, my ears have heard and understood it. | 1"Indeed, 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 know also; I am not inferior to you! |
| 3But I desire to speak to the Almighty and to argue my case with God. | 3But I wish to speak to the Almighty, and I desire to argue my case with God. |
| 4You, however, smear me with lies; you are worthless physicians, all of you! | 4But you, however, are inventors of lies; all of you are worthless physicians! |
| 5If only you would be altogether silent! For you, that would be wisdom. | 5If only you would keep completely silent! For you, that would be wisdom. |
| 6Hear now my argument; listen to the pleas of my lips. | 6"Listen now to my argument, and be attentive to my lips' contentions. |
| 7Will you speak wickedly on God's behalf? Will you speak deceitfully for him? | 7Will you speak wickedly on God's behalf? Will you speak deceitfully for him? |
| 8Will you show him partiality? Will you argue the case for God? | 8Will you show him partiality? Will you argue the case for God? |
| 9Would it turn out well if he examined you? Could you deceive him as you might deceive a mortal? | 9Would it turn out well if he would examine you? Or as one deceives a man would you deceive him? |
| 10He would surely call you to account if you secretly showed partiality. | 10He would certainly rebuke you if you secretly showed partiality! |
| 11Would not his splendor terrify you? Would not the dread of him fall on you? | 11Would not his splendor terrify you and the fear he inspires 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"Keep silent and let me speak; then let come to me what may. | 13"Refrain from talking with me so that I may speak; then let come to me what may. |
| 14Why do I put myself in jeopardy and take my life in my hands? | 14Why do I put myself in peril, and take my life in my hands? |
| 15Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face. | 15Even if he slays me, I will hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face! |
| 16Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance, for no godless person would dare come before him! | 16Moreover, this will become my deliverance, for no godless person would come before him. |
| 17Listen carefully to what I say; let my words ring in your ears. | 17Listen carefully to my words; let your ears be attentive to my explanation. |
| 18Now that I have prepared my case, I know I will be vindicated. | 18See now, I have prepared my case; I know that I am right. |
| 19Can anyone bring charges against me? If so, I will be silent and die. | 19Who will contend with me? If anyone can, I will be silent and die. |
| 20"Only grant me these two things, God, and then I will not hide from you: | 20Only in two things spare me, O God, and then I will not hide from your face: |
| 21Withdraw your hand far from me, and stop frightening me with your terrors. | 21Remove your hand far from me and stop making me afraid with your terror. |
| 22Then summon me 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 respond to me. |
| 23How many wrongs and sins have I committed? Show me my offense and my sin. | 23How many are my iniquities and sins? Show me my transgression and my sin. |
| 24Why do you hide your face and consider me your enemy? | 24Why do you hide your face and regard me as your enemy? |
| 25Will you torment a windblown leaf? Will you chase after dry chaff? | 25Do you wish to torment a windblown leaf and chase after dry chaff? |
| 26For you write down bitter things against me and make me reap the sins of my youth. | 26For you write down bitter things against me and cause me to inherit the sins of my youth. |
| 27You fasten my feet in shackles; you keep close watch on all my paths by putting marks on the soles of my feet. | 27And you put my feet in the stocks and you watch all my movements; you put marks on the soles of my feet. |
| 28"So man wastes away like something rotten, like a garment eaten by moths. | 28So I waste away like something rotten, like a garment eaten by moths. |
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