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New International Version (NIV) |
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1 "Lo, my eye has seen all this, my ear has heard and understood it.
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1 "My eyes have seen all this, my ears have heard and understood it.
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2 What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you.
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2 What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you.
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3 But I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to argue my case with God.
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3 But I desire to speak to the Almighty and to argue my case with God.
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4 As for you, you whitewash with lies; worthless physicians are you all.
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4 You, however, smear me with lies; you are worthless physicians, all of you!
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5 Oh that you would keep silent, and it would be your wisdom!
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5 If only you would be altogether silent! For you, that would be wisdom.
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6 Hear now my reasoning, and listen to the pleadings of my lips.
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6 Hear now my argument; listen to the plea of my lips.
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7 Will you speak falsely for God, and speak deceitfully for him?
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7 Will you speak wickedly on God's behalf ? Will you speak deceitfully for him?
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8 Will you show partiality toward him, will you plead the case for God?
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8 Will you show him partiality? Will you argue the case for God?
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9 Will it be well with you when he searches you out? Or can you deceive him, as one deceives a man?
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9 Would it turn out well if he examined you? Could you deceive him as you might deceive men?
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10 He will surely rebuke you if in secret you show partiality.
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10 He would surely rebuke you if you secretly showed partiality.
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11 Will not his majesty terrify you, and the dread of him fall upon you?
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11 Would not his splendor terrify you? Would not the dread of him fall on you?
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12 Your maxims are proverbs of ashes, your defenses are defenses of clay.
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12 Your maxims are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay.
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13 "Let me have silence, and I will speak, and let come on me what may.
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13 "Keep silent and let me speak; then let come to me what may.
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14 I will take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand.
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14 Why do I put myself in jeopardy and take my life in my hands?
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15 Behold, he will slay me; I have no hope; yet I will defend my ways to his face.
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15 Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face.
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16 This will be my salvation, that a godless man shall not come before him.
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16 Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance, for no godless man would dare come before him!
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17 Listen carefully to my words, and let my declaration be in your ears.
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17 Listen carefully to my words; let your ears take in what I say.
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18 Behold, I have prepared my case; I know that I shall be vindicated.
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18 Now that I have prepared my case, I know I will be vindicated.
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19 Who is there that will contend with me? For then I would be silent and die.
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19 Can anyone bring charges against me? If so, I will be silent and die.
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20 Only grant two things to me, then I will not hide myself from thy face:
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20 "Only grant me these two things, O God, and then I will not hide from you:
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21 withdraw thy hand far from me, and let not dread of thee terrify me.
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21 Withdraw your hand far from me, and stop frightening me with your terrors.
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22 Then call, and I will answer; or let me speak, and do thou reply to me.
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22 Then summon me and I will answer, or let me speak, and you reply.
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23 How many are my iniquities and my sins? Make me know my transgression and my sin.
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23 How many wrongs and sins have I committed? Show me my offense and my sin.
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24 Why dost thou hide thy face, and count me as thy enemy?
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24 Why do you hide your face and consider me your enemy?
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25 Wilt thou frighten a driven leaf and pursue dry chaff?
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25 Will you torment a windblown leaf ? Will you chase after dry chaff ?
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26 For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me inherit the iniquities of my youth.
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26 For you write down bitter things against me and make me inherit the sins of my youth.
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27 Thou puttest my feet in the stocks, and watchest all my paths; thou settest a bound to the soles of my feet.
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27 You fasten my feet in shackles; you keep close watch on all my paths by putting marks on the soles of my feet.
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28 Man wastes away like a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten.
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28 "So man wastes away like something rotten, like a garment eaten by moths.
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| Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. (Revised Standard Version - Holy Bible) |
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |
