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

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

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

What ye know, I know also: I am not inferior to you.

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

But I will speak to the Almighty, and will find pleasure in reasoning with God;

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

For ye indeed are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.

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

Oh that ye would be altogether silent! and it would be your wisdom.

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

Hear now my defence, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.

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

Will ye speak unrighteously for God? and for him speak deceit?

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

Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God?

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

Will it be well if he should search you out? or as one mocketh at a man, will ye mock at him?

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

He will certainly reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.

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

Shall not his excellency terrify you? and his dread fall upon you?

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

Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes, your bulwarks are bulwarks of mire.

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

Hold your peace from me, and I will speak, and let come on me what!

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

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 my ways before him.

Behold, if he slay me, yet would I trust in him; but I will defend mine own ways before him.

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

This also shall be my salvation, that a profane man shall not come before his face.

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

Hear attentively my speech and my declaration with your ears.

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

Behold now, I have ordered the cause; I know that I shall be justified.

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 that contendeth with me? For if I were silent now, I should expire.

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

Only do not two things unto me; then will I not hide myself from thee.

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

Withdraw thy hand far from me; and let not thy terror make me 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 I will speak, and answer thou me.

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

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

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

Wherefore dost thou hide thy face, and countest me for thine enemy?

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

Wilt thou terrify a driven leaf? and wilt thou pursue dry stubble?

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

For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess 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:

And thou puttest my feet in the stocks, and markest all my paths; thou settest a bound about the soles of my feet;—

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

One who, as a rotten thing consumeth, as a garment that the moth eateth.