1 ¶ Behold, my eyes have seen all this; my ears have heard and understood it.

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

2 A s you know it, I know it; I am not inferior unto you.

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

3 B ut I would speak with the Almighty, and I desired to dispute with God.

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

4 T hat ye are certainly 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 be silent! And it would be unto you instead of wisdom.

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

6 H ear now my dispute, and hearken to the arguments of my lips.

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

7 A re ye to speak iniquity for God? Are ye to speak deceitfully for him?

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

8 A re ye to bring honour unto him? Are ye to contend for God?

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

9 W ould it be good for him to search you out? As one man mocks 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 reprove you severely, if in secret you give him such honour.

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

11 C ertainly his excellency should make you afraid, and his dread should fall upon you.

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

12 Y our memories shall be compared unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.

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

13 ¶ Listen to me, and I will speak, and afterward let come on me what will.

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

14 W hy shall I take my flesh in my teeth and put my life in the palm of my hand?

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

15 T hough he slay me, yet I will trust in him; but I will defend my 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 saving health; for the hypocrite shall not enter into his presence.

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

17 H ear diligently my reason and my declaration with your ears.

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

18 B ehold now, if I draw near unto the judgment; 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 contend with me? For now, if I remain silent, I shall die.

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

20 A t the least, grant me these two things; then I will not hide myself from thee:

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

21 w ithdraw thy hand 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, 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 ¶ How many are my 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 hy dost thou hide thy face, and hold 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? 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 W hy dost thou write bitter things against me and make me carry 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 dost put my feet also in the stocks and look narrowly unto all my paths; thou dost set 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 man, is as a rotten thing that is being consumed, as a garment that is moth eaten.

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