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

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

2 “ What you know I also know; I am not inferior to you.

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

3 “ But I would speak to the Almighty, And I desire to argue with God.

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

4 “ But you smear with lies; You are all worthless physicians.

But you are forgers of lies. You are all physicians of no value.

5 “ O that you would be completely silent, And that it would become your wisdom!

Oh that you would be completely silent! Then you would be wise.

6 “ Please hear my argument And listen to the contentions of my lips.

Hear now my reasoning. Listen to the pleadings of my lips.

7 “ Will you speak what is unjust for God, And speak what is deceitful for Him?

Will you speak unrighteously for God, and talk deceitfully for him?

8 “ Will you show partiality for Him? Will you contend for God?

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

9 “ Will it be well when He examines you? Or will you deceive Him as one deceives a man?

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

10 “ He will surely reprove you If you secretly show partiality.

He will surely reprove you if you secretly show partiality.

11 “ Will not His majesty terrify you, And the dread of Him fall on you?

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

12 “ Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes, Your defenses are defenses of clay. Job Is Sure He Will Be Vindicated

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

13 “ Be silent before me so that I may speak; Then let come on me what may.

“Be silent, leave me alone, that I may speak. Let come on me what will.

14 “ Why should I take my flesh in my teeth And put my life in my hands?

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

15 “ Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. Nevertheless I will argue my ways before Him.

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

16 “ This also will be my salvation, For a godless man may not come before His presence.

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

17 “ Listen carefully to my speech, And let my declaration fill your ears.

Hear diligently my speech. Let my declaration be in your ears.

18 “ Behold now, I have prepared my case; I know that I will be vindicated.

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

19 “ Who will contend with me? For then I would be silent and die.

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

20 “ Only two things do not do to me, Then I will not hide from Your face:

“Only don’t do two things to me; then I will not hide myself from your face:

21 R emove Your hand from me, And let not the dread of You terrify me.

withdraw your hand far from me; and don’t let your terror make me afraid.

22 “ Then call, and I will answer; Or let me speak, then reply to me.

Then call, and I will answer; or let me speak, and you answer me.

23 “ How many are my iniquities and sins? Make known to me my rebellion and my sin.

How many are my iniquities and sins? Make me know my disobedience and my sin.

24 “ Why do You hide Your face And consider me Your enemy?

Why hide you your face, and hold me for your enemy?

25 “ Will You cause a driven leaf to tremble? Or will You pursue the dry chaff?

Will you harass a driven leaf? Will you pursue the dry stubble?

26 “ For You write bitter things against me And make me to inherit the iniquities of my youth.

For you write bitter things against me, and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth:

27 “ You put my feet in the stocks And watch all my paths; You set a limit for the soles of my feet,

You also put my feet in the stocks, and mark all my paths. You set a bound to the soles of my feet,

28 W hile I am decaying like a rotten thing, Like a garment that is moth-eaten.

though I am decaying like a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten.