| New King James Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1“Behold, my eye has seen all this, My ear has heard and understood it. | 1Look, 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. | 2Everything 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 prefer to speak to the Almighty and argue my case before God. |
| 4But you forgers of lies, You are all worthless physicians. | 4But you coat the truth with lies; you are all worthless doctors. |
| 5Oh, that you would be silent, And it would be your wisdom! | 5If only you would shut up and let that be your wisdom! |
| 6Now hear my reasoning, And heed the pleadings of my lips. | 6Hear now my argument, and listen to my defense. |
| 7Will you speak wickedly for God, And talk deceitfully for Him? | 7Would you testify unjustly on God's behalf or speak deceitfully for Him? |
| 8Will you show partiality for Him? Will you contend for God? | 8Would you show partiality to Him or argue the case in His defense? |
| 9Will it be well when He searches you out? Or can you mock Him as one mocks a man? | 9Would it go well if He examined you? Could you deceive Him as you would deceive 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 God's majesty not terrify you? Would His dread not fall on you? |
| 12Your platitudes are proverbs of ashes, Your defenses are defenses of clay. | 12Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ash; your defenses are made of clay. |
| 13“Hold your peace with me, and let me speak, Then let come on me what may! | 13Be quiet, and I will speak. Let whatever comes happen to me. |
| 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. | 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 a hypocrite could not come before Him. | 16Yes, this will result in my deliverance, for no godless person can appear before Him. |
| 17Listen carefully to my speech, And to my declaration with your ears. | 17Pay close attention to my words; let my declaration ring in your ears. |
| 18See now, I have prepared my case, I know that I shall be vindicated. | 18Now then, I have prepared my case; I know that I am right. |
| 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, God, so that I will not have to hide from Your presence: |
| 21Withdraw Your hand far from me, And let not the dread of You make me afraid. | 21remove 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, and I will answer, or I will speak, and You can respond to me. |
| 23How many are my iniquities and sins? Make me know my transgression and my sin. | 23How many iniquities and sins have I committed? 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 Your enemy? |
| 25Will You frighten a leaf driven to and fro? And will You pursue dry stubble? | 25Will You frighten a wind-driven leaf? Will You chase after dry straw? |
| 26For You write bitter things against me, And make me inherit the iniquities of my youth. | 26For You record bitter accusations 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 stand watch over all my paths, setting a limit for the soles of my feet. |
| 28“Man decays like a rotten thing, Like a garment that is moth-eaten. | 28Man wears out like something rotten, like a moth-eaten garment. |
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