1 “ Behold, 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 know also. I am not inferior to you.

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

3 “ Surely I would speak to the Almighty. I desire to reason 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.

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

5 O h that you would be completely silent! Then you would be wise.

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

6 H ear now my reasoning. 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 contend for God?

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

9 I s it good that he should search you out? Or as one deceives a man, will you deceive 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 secretly show partiality.

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

11 S hall not his majesty make you afraid, And his dread fall on 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 “ Be silent, leave me alone, that I may speak. Let come on me what will.

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 hand?

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

15 B ehold, he will kill 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 my 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 godless man shall not come before him.

17 H ear diligently my speech. Let my declaration be in your ears.

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

18 S ee now, I have set my cause in order. I know that I am righteous.

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

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

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

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

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

21 w ithdraw your hand far from me; and don’t let your terror make me afraid.

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 know my disobedience and my sin.

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

24 W hy hide you your face, and hold me for your enemy?

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

25 W ill you harass a driven leaf? Will you pursue 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 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 also put my feet in the stocks, and mark all my paths. You set a bound to 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 t hough I am decaying like 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.