1 L o, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it.

“See, my eye has seen all this. My ear has heard and understood it.

2 W hat ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you.

What you know I also know. I am not less than you.

3 S urely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.

“But I wish to speak to the All-powerful. I want to argue with God.

4 B ut ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.

But you cover things with lies. You are doctors of no worth.

5 O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.

If only you would be quiet, and that would show your wisdom!

6 H ear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.

Hear what I think. Listen to the arguing of my lips.

7 W ill ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?

Will you say what is not true for God? Will you lie for Him?

8 W ill ye accept his person? will ye contend for God?

Will you show favor for Him? Will you argue for God?

9 I s it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him?

Will it be well when He tests you? Or do you lie to Him as one lies to a man?

10 H e will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.

For sure He will speak strong words to you if you show favor in secret.

11 S hall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you?

Will not His great power make you afraid? Will not the fear of Him come upon you?

12 Y our remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.

Your wise sayings are sayings of ashes. Your strength is the strength of clay.

13 H old your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.

“Be quiet so that I may speak. Then let come on me what will.

14 W herefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?

Why should I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hands?

15 T hough he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

Even though He would kill me, yet I will trust in Him. I will argue my ways to His face.

16 H e also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.

This will save me, for a sinful man may not come to Him.

17 H ear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.

Be careful to listen to my words. Let what I say fill your ears.

18 B ehold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.

See, I am ready to tell everything, and all will know I am right.

19 W ho is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.

Who will talk against me? For then I would be quiet and die.

20 O nly do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from thee.

“Only two things I ask of You, and then I will not hide from Your face.

21 W ithdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid.

Take Your hand from me, and do not let the fear of You make me so afraid.

22 T hen call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me.

Then call, and I will answer. Or let me speak, and You answer me.

23 H ow many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin.

How many are my sins and wrong-doings? Help me to know my wrong-doing and sin.

24 W herefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy?

Why do You hide Your face, and think of me as one who hates You?

25 W ilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?

Will You make a wind-blown leaf afraid? Will You go after the dry parts of a grain-field that have no worth?

26 F or thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth.

For You write bitter things against me. You punish me for the sins I did when I was young.

27 T hou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet.

You put chains on my feet, and watch everything I do. You let me walk only so far.

28 A nd he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth eaten.

I am wasting away like a piece of dead wood, like clothing eaten by the moth.