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

Behold, 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 inferior to you.

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

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

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

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

5 O h that ye would altogether hold your peace! And it would be your wisdom.

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

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

Hear now my reasoning, and listen to the pleadings of my lips.

7 W ill ye speak unrighteously for God, And talk deceitfully for him?

Will you speak unrighteously for God and talk deceitfully for Him?

8 W ill ye show partiality to him? Will ye contend for God?

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

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

Would 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?

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

He will surely reprove you if you do secretly show partiality.

11 S hall not his majesty make you afraid, And his dread fall upon you?

Shall not His majesty make you afraid, and should not your awe for Him restrain you?

12 Y our memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes, Your defences are defences of clay.

Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay.

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

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

14 W herefore should I take my flesh in my teeth, And put my life in my hand?

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

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

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

16 T his also shall be my salvation, That a godless man shall not come before him.

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

17 H ear diligently my speech, And let my declaration be in your ears.

Listen diligently to my speech, and let my declaration be in your ears.

18 B ehold now, I have set my cause in order; I know that I am righteous.

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

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

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

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

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

21 W ithdraw thy hand far from me; And let not thy terror make me afraid.

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

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 iniquities and sins ? Make me recognize and know my transgression and my sin.

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

Why do You hide Your face and alienate me as if I were Your enemy?

25 W ilt thou harass a driven leaf? And wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?

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

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

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

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

You 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.

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

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