| King James Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it. | 1Look, my eyes have seen all this; my ears have heard and understood it. |
| 2What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you. | 2Everything you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you. |
| 3Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God. | 3Yet I prefer to speak to the Almighty and argue my case before God. |
| 4But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value. | 4But you coat the truth with lies; you are all worthless doctors. |
| 5O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom. | 5If only you would shut up and let that be your wisdom! |
| 6Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips. | 6Hear now my argument, and listen to my defense. |
| 7Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him? | 7Would you testify unjustly on God's behalf or speak deceitfully for Him? |
| 8Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God? | 8Would you show partiality to Him or argue the case in His defense? |
| 9Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him? | 9Would it go well if He examined you? Could you deceive Him as you would deceive a man? |
| 10He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons. | 10Surely He would rebuke you if you secretly showed partiality. |
| 11Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you? | 11Would God's majesty not terrify you? Would His dread not fall on you? |
| 12Your remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay. | 12Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ash; your defenses are made of clay. |
| 13Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will. | 13Be quiet, and I will speak. Let whatever comes happen to me. |
| 14Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand? | 14Why do I put myself at risk and take my life in my own hands? |
| 15Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. | 15Even if He kills me, I will hope in Him. I will still defend my ways before Him. |
| 16He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him. | 16Yes, this will result in my deliverance, for no godless person can appear before Him. |
| 17Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears. | 17Pay close attention to my words; let my declaration ring in your ears. |
| 18Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified. | 18Now then, I have prepared my case; I know that I am right. |
| 19Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost. | 19Can anyone indict me? If so, I will be silent and die. |
| 20Only do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from thee. | 20Only grant these two things to me, God, so that I will not have to hide from Your presence: |
| 21Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid. | 21remove Your hand from me, and do not let Your terror frighten me. |
| 22Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me. | 22Then call, and I will answer, or I will speak, and You can respond to me. |
| 23How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin. | 23How many iniquities and sins have I committed? Reveal to me my transgression and sin. |
| 24Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy? | 24Why do You hide Your face and consider me Your enemy? |
| 25Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble? | 25Will You frighten a wind-driven leaf? Will You chase after dry straw? |
| 26For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth. | 26For You record bitter accusations against me and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth. |
| 27Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet. | 27You put my feet in the stocks and stand watch over all my paths, setting a limit for the soles of my feet. |
| 28And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth eaten. | 28Man wears out like something rotten, like a moth-eaten garment. |
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