| New King James Version | English Standard Version |
| 1“Behold, my eye has seen all this, My ear has heard and understood it. | 1“Behold, my eye has seen all this, my ear has heard and understood it. |
| 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. | 3But I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to argue my case with God. |
| 4But you forgers of lies, You are all worthless physicians. | 4As for you, you whitewash with lies; worthless physicians are you all. |
| 5Oh, that you would be silent, And it would be your wisdom! | 5Oh that you would keep silent, and it would be your wisdom! |
| 6Now hear my reasoning, And heed the pleadings of my lips. | 6Hear now my argument and listen to the pleadings of my lips. |
| 7Will you speak wickedly for God, And talk deceitfully for Him? | 7Will you speak falsely for God and speak deceitfully for him? |
| 8Will you show partiality for Him? Will you contend for God? | 8Will you show partiality toward him? Will you plead the case for God? |
| 9Will it be well when He searches you out? Or can you mock Him as one mocks a man? | 9Will it be well with you when he searches you out? Or can you deceive him, as one deceives a man? |
| 10He will surely rebuke you If you secretly show partiality. | 10He will surely rebuke you if in secret you show partiality. |
| 11Will not His excellence make you afraid, And the dread of Him fall upon you? | 11Will not his majesty terrify you, and the dread of him 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! | 13“Let me have silence, and I will speak, and let come on me what may. |
| 14Why do I take my flesh in my teeth, And put my life in my hands? | 14Why should I take my flesh in my teeth and put my life in my hand? |
| 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; yet I will argue my ways to his face. |
| 16He also shall be my salvation, For a hypocrite could not come before Him. | 16This will be my salvation, that the godless shall not come before him. |
| 17Listen carefully to my speech, And to my declaration with your ears. | 17Keep listening to my words, and let my declaration be in your ears. |
| 18See now, I have prepared my case, I know that I shall be vindicated. | 18Behold, I have prepared my case; I know that I shall be in the right. |
| 19Who is he who will contend with me? If now I hold my tongue, I perish. | 19Who is there who will contend with me? For then I would be silent and die. |
| 20“Only two things do not do to me, Then I will not hide myself from You: | 20Only grant me two things, then I will not hide myself from your face: |
| 21Withdraw Your hand far from me, And let not the dread of You make me afraid. | 21withdraw your hand far from me, and let not dread of you terrify me. |
| 22Then call, and I will answer; Or let me speak, then You respond to me. | 22Then call, and I will answer; or let me speak, and you reply to me. |
| 23How many are my iniquities and sins? Make me know my transgression and my sin. | 23How many are my iniquities and my sins? Make me know my transgression and my sin. |
| 24Why do You hide Your face, And regard me as Your enemy? | 24Why do you hide your face and count me as your enemy? |
| 25Will You frighten a leaf driven to and fro? And will You pursue dry stubble? | 25Will you frighten a driven leaf and pursue dry chaff? |
| 26For You write bitter things against me, And make me inherit the iniquities of my youth. | 26For you write bitter things against me and make me inherit 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 watch 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. | 28Man wastes away like a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | 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. |
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