English Standard Version

International Standard Version

1“Behold, my eye has seen all this, my ear has heard and understood it.

1"Look, I've seen everything; I've listened carefully and I understand.

2What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you.

2What you know, I know, too; I'm not inferior to you.

3But I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to argue my case with God.

3But I want to talk to the Almighty; and I'm determined to argue my case before God."

4As for you, you whitewash with lies; worthless physicians are you all.

4"But as for you, you whitewash with lies; all of you are worthless quacks.

5Oh that you would keep silent, and it would be your wisdom!

5I wish you'd all just shut up. Then at least you would appear to be wise.

6Hear now my argument and listen to the pleadings of my lips.

6"Now listen to my dispute! Pay attention to my arguments.

7Will you speak falsely for God and speak deceitfully for him?

7Why do you speak falsely on God's behalf and speak deceitfully about him?

8Will you show partiality toward him? Will you plead the case for God?

8Will you show partiality to him? Will you plead God's case?

9Will it be well with you when he searches you out? Or can you deceive him, as one deceives a man?

9Will things go well for you under his cross-examination? Can you lie to him, as you would to a human being?

10He will surely rebuke you if in secret you show partiality.

10"He will be sure to rebuke you, if you show partiality in secret.

11Will not his majesty terrify you, and the dread of him fall upon you?

11His splendor will petrify you with terror, paralyzing you with fear, won't it?

12Your maxims are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay.

12Your maxims are just worthless proverbs; your defensive arguments are made of clay."

13“Let me have silence, and I will speak, and let come on me what may.

13"Don't talk to me! It's my turn to speak; then whatever happens, happens.

14Why should I take my flesh in my teeth and put my life in my hand?

14Why shouldn't I bite my flesh or take my life in my hands?

15Though he slay me, I will hope in him; yet I will argue my ways to his face.

15Even though he kills me, I'll continue to hope in him. At least I'll be able to argue my case to his face!

16This will be my salvation, that the godless shall not come before him.

16I have this as my salvation: the godless person won't be appearing before him.

17Keep listening to my words, and let my declaration be in your ears.

17Pay attention to what I have to say and listen to my testimony with your own ears."

18Behold, I have prepared my case; I know that I shall be in the right.

18"Look, now! I've prepared my case for court. I know that I'm going to win.

19Who is there who will contend with me? For then I would be silent and die.

19Who can oppose me? If they do, I'll be silent and die.

20Only grant me two things, then I will not hide myself from your face:

20Grant me only two things as you deal with me; then I won't hide from you.

21withdraw your hand far from me, and let not dread of you terrify me.

21Withdraw your hand far from me and keep me from being petrified with terror.

22Then call, and I will answer; or let me speak, and you reply to me.

22Then call and I'll answer, or let me speak and then you reply to me!"

23How many are my iniquities and my sins? Make me know my transgression and my sin.

23"How many of my iniquities and sins have you counted? Show me my transgression and sin.

24Why do you hide your face and count me as your enemy?

24Why do you hide your face and regard me as your enemy?

25Will you frighten a driven leaf and pursue dry chaff?

25Are you a god who would make a leaf tremble or who would prosecute a dry straw?

26For you write bitter things against me and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.

26You've accused me of bitter things; you've caused me to reap the sins of my youth.

27You put my feet in the stocks and watch all my paths; you set a limit for the soles of my feet.

27You've locked my feet in stocks; you watch all my steps; You've limited where I can walk.

28Man wastes away like a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten.

28So I'm a man who wears out like something rotten, like a garment that has become moth-eaten."

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.

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.