1“Indeed, my eyes have seen all this;
my ears have heard and understood.
1“ Behold, all this my eye has seen; my ear has heard and understood it.
2What you know, I also know;
I am not inferior to you.
2According to your knowledge, I also know; I am not falling below you.
3Yet I desire to speak to the Almighty
and argue my case before God.
3But I wish to speak to Shaddai, and to reason with God I desire.
4You, however, smear with lies;
you are all worthless physicians.
4But you, are plasterers of a lie, worthless physicians all of you.
5If only you would remain silent;
for that would be your wisdom!
5Who will give that you will surely remain silent, and it will be for wisdom for you.
6Hear now my argument,
and listen to the plea of my lips.
6Hear now my reasoning, and be attentive to the quarreling of my lips.
7Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf
or speak deceitfully for Him?
7Will you speak injustice for God, and will you speak deceit for Him?
8Would you show Him partiality
or argue in His defense?
8Will you lift His face, or will you contend for God?
9Would it be well when He examined you?
Could you deceive Him as you would deceive a man?
9Will it be good when He searches you out? Or as one mocks a man, can you mock Him?
10Surely He would rebuke you
if you secretly showed partiality.
10He will surely rebuke you, if in secrecy you were lifting faces.
11Would His majesty not terrify you?
Would the dread of Him not fall upon you?
11Will not His excellence terrify you and the dread of Him fall upon you?
12Your maxims are proverbs of ashes;
your defenses are defenses of clay.
12Your remembrances are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay.
13Be silent, and I will speak.
Then let come to me what may.
13Keep silent from me, and I will speak, and let come upon me what may.
14Why do I put myself at risk
and takea my life in my own hands?
14For what do I take up my flesh in my teeth, and my soul do I set in my palm?
15Though He slay me, I will hope in Him.a
I will still defend my ways to His face.
15Behold, He may slay me; unto Him I will hope. Indeed, my ways to His face I will defend.
16Moreover, this will be my salvation,
for no godless man can appear before Him.
16Even this may be unto me salvation, for the godless one shall not come in before His face.
17Listen carefully to my words;
let my declaration ring in your ears.
17Listen with hearing to my speech, and may my declaration be in your ears.
18See now, I have prepared my case;
I know that I will be vindicated.
18Behold, now, I have arranged my defense. I know that I am righteous.
19Can anyone indict me?
If so, I will be silent and die.
19Who is he who will contend with me? For then I would be silent and die.
20Only grant these two things to me,
so that I need not hide from You:
20Only two things may You not do with me; then from Your face I will not hide myself.
21Withdraw Your hand from me,
and do not let Your terror frighten me.
21Withdraw your hand from me, and do not let Your terror terrify me.
22Then call me, and I will answer,
or let me speak, and You can reply.
22And call, and I will answer; or let me speak, and You reply.
23How many are my iniquities and sins?
Reveal to me my transgression and sin.
23How many are the iniquities and sins for me? Make me know my transgression and my sin.
24Why do You hide Your face
and consider me as Your enemy?
24Why do You hide Your face and consider me as an enemy unto You?
25Would You frighten a windblown leaf?
Would You chase after dry chaff?
25Would You make tremble a leaf driven away, and would You pursue dry stubble?
26For You record bitter accusations against me
and bequeath to me the iniquities of my youth.
26For You write against me bitter things, and you make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.
27You put my feet in the stocks
and stand watch over all my paths;
You set a limit
for the soles of my feet.
27And You put my feet in the stock, and You watch all my paths; upon the soles of my feet You engrave.
28So man wastes away like something rotten,
like a moth-eaten garment.
28And he, like a rotten thing, is worn out, like a garment a moth has eaten.