1 B ehold, my eye has seen all this, my ear has heard and understood it.

Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, Mine ear hath heard and understood it.

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

What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you.

3 S urely I wish to speak to the Almighty, and I desire to argue and reason my case with God.

Surely I would speak to the Almighty, And I desire to reason with God.

4 B ut you are forgers of lies; you are all physicians of no value and have no remedy to offer.

But ye are forgers of lies; Ye are all physicians of no value.

5 O h, that you would altogether hold your peace! Then you would evidence your wisdom and you might pass for wise men.

Oh that ye would altogether hold your peace! And it would be your wisdom.

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

Hear now my reasoning, And hearken to the pleadings of my lips.

7 W ill you speak unrighteously for God and talk deceitfully for Him?

Will ye speak unrighteously for God, And talk deceitfully for him?

8 W ill you show partiality to Him ? Will you act as special pleaders for God?

Will ye show partiality to him? Will ye contend for God?

9 W ould it be profitable for you if He should investigate your tactics ? Or as one deceives and mocks a man, do you deceive and mock Him?

Is it good that he should search you out? Or as one deceiveth a man, will ye deceive him?

10 H e will surely reprove you if you do secretly show partiality.

He will surely reprove you If ye do secretly show partiality.

11 S hall not His majesty make you afraid, and should not your awe for Him restrain you?

Shall not his majesty make you afraid, And his dread fall upon you?

12 Y our memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay.

Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes, Your defences are defences of clay.

13 H old your peace! Let me alone, so I may speak; and let come on me what may.

Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak; And let come on me what will.

14 W hy should I take my flesh in my teeth and put my life in my hands ?

Wherefore should I take my flesh in my teeth, And put my life in my hand?

15 b ehold, He will slay me; I have no hope—nevertheless, I will maintain and argue my ways before Him and even to His face.

Behold, he will slay me; I have no hope: Nevertheless I will maintain my ways before him.

16 T his will be my salvation, that a polluted and godless man shall not come before Him.

This also shall be my salvation, That a godless man shall not come before him.

17 L isten diligently to my speech, and let my declaration be in your ears.

Hear diligently my speech, And let my declaration be in your ears.

18 B ehold now, I have prepared my case; I know that I shall be justified and vindicated.

Behold now, I have set my cause in order; I know that I am righteous.

19 W ho is he who will argue against and refute me? For then I would hold my peace and expire.

Who is he that will contend with me? For then would I hold my peace and give up the ghost.

20 O nly grant two conditions to me, and then will I not hide myself from You:

Only do not two things unto me; Then will I not hide myself from thy face:

21 W ithdraw Your hand and take this bodily suffering far from me; and let not my dread of You terrify me.

Withdraw thy hand far from me; And let not thy terror make me afraid.

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

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

23 H ow many are my iniquities and sins ? Make me recognize and know my transgression and my sin.

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

24 W hy do You hide Your face and alienate me as if I were Your enemy?

Wherefore hidest thou thy face, And holdest me for thine enemy?

25 W ill You harass and frighten a leaf driven to and fro, and will You pursue the chaff of the dry stubble?

Wilt thou harass a driven leaf? And wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?

26 F or You write bitter things against me and make me inherit and be accountable now for the iniquities of my youth.

For thou writest bitter things against me, And makest me to inherit the iniquities of my youth:

27 Y ou put my feet also in the stocks and observe critically all my paths; You set a circle and limit around the soles of my feet.

Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, And markest all my paths; Thou settest a bound to the soles of my feet:

28 A nd he wastes away as a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten.

Though I am like a rotten thing that consumeth, Like a garment that is moth-eaten.