| New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1“Behold, my eye has seen all this, My ear has heard and understood it. | 1“Indeed, my eyes have seen all this; my ears have heard and understood. |
| 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 reason with God. | 3Yet I desire to speak to the Almighty and argue my case before God. |
| 4But you forgers of lies, You are all worthless physicians. | 4You, however, smear with lies; you are all worthless physicians. |
| 5Oh, that you would be silent, And it would be your wisdom! | 5If only you would remain silent; for that would be your wisdom! |
| 6Now hear my reasoning, And heed the pleadings of my lips. | 6Hear now my argument, and listen to the plea of my lips. |
| 7Will you speak wickedly for God, And talk deceitfully for Him? | 7Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf or speak deceitfully for Him? |
| 8Will you show partiality for Him? Will you contend for God? | 8Would you show Him partiality or argue in His defense? |
| 9Will it be well when He searches you out? Or can you mock Him as one mocks a man? | 9Would it be well when He examined you? Could you deceive Him like a man? |
| 10He will surely rebuke you If you secretly show partiality. | 10Surely He would rebuke you if you secretly showed partiality. |
| 11Will not His excellence make you afraid, And the dread of Him fall upon you? | 11Would His majesty not terrify you? Would the dread of Him not fall upon you? |
| 12Your platitudes are proverbs of ashes, Your defenses are defenses of clay. | 12Your maxims are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay. |
| 13“Hold your peace with me, and let me speak, Then let come on me what may! | 13Be silent, and I will speak. Then let come to me what may. |
| 14Why do I take my flesh in my teeth, And put my life in my hands? | 14Why do I put myself at risk and take my life in my own hands? |
| 15Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him. | 15Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. I will still defend my ways to His face. |
| 16He also shall be my salvation, For a hypocrite could not come before Him. | 16Moreover, this will be my salvation, for no godless man can appear before Him. |
| 17Listen carefully to my speech, And to my declaration with your ears. | 17Listen carefully to my words; let my declaration ring in your ears. |
| 18See now, I have prepared my case, I know that I shall be vindicated. | 18Behold, now that I have prepared my case, I know that I will be vindicated. |
| 19Who is he who will contend with me? If now I hold my tongue, I perish. | 19Can anyone indict me? If so, I will be silent and die. |
| 20“Only two things do not do to me, Then I will not hide myself from You: | 20Only grant these two things to me, so that I need not hide from You: |
| 21Withdraw Your hand far from me, And let not the dread of You make me afraid. | 21Withdraw Your hand from me, and do not let Your terror frighten me. |
| 22Then call, and I will answer; Or let me speak, then You respond to me. | 22Then call me, and I will answer, or let me speak, and You can reply. |
| 23How many are my iniquities and sins? Make me know my transgression and my sin. | 23How many are my iniquities and sins? Reveal to me my transgression and sin. |
| 24Why do You hide Your face, And regard me as Your enemy? | 24Why do You hide Your face and consider me as Your enemy? |
| 25Will You frighten a leaf driven to and fro? And will You pursue dry stubble? | 25Would You frighten a windblown leaf? Would You chase after dry chaff? |
| 26For You write bitter things against me, And make me inherit the iniquities of my youth. | 26For You record bitter accusations against me and bequeath to me the iniquities of my youth. |
| 27You put my feet in the stocks, And watch closely all my paths. You set a limit for the soles of my feet. | 27You put my feet in the stocks and stand watch over all my paths; You set a limit for the soles of my feet. |
| 28“Man decays like a rotten thing, Like a garment that is moth-eaten. | 28So man wastes away like something rotten, like a moth-eaten garment. |
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