Common English Bible CEB
English Standard Version ESV
1 Look, my eye has seen it all; my ear has heard and understood it.
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“Behold, my eye has seen all this, my ear has heard and understood it.
2 Just as you know, I also know; I'm not inferior to you.
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What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you.
3 But I want to speak to the Almighty; I would gladly present my case to God.
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But I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to argue my case with God.
4 You, however, are plasterers of lies; ineffective healers, all of you.
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As for you, you whitewash with lies; worthless physicians are you all.
5 Would that you were completely quiet; that would be your wisdom.
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Oh that you would keep silent, and it would be your wisdom!
6 Hear my teaching and pay attention to the arguments of my lips.
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Hear now my argument and listen to the pleadings of my lips.
7 Will you speak injustice for God, speak deceit on his behalf?
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Will you speak falsely for God and speak deceitfully for him?
8 Will you be partial or contend for God?
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Will you show partiality toward him? Will you plead the case for God?
9 Will it go well when he searches you, or can you fool him as you fool people?
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Will it be well with you when he searches you out? Or can you deceive him, as one deceives a man?
10 He will certainly correct you if you've been secretly partial.
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He will surely rebuke you if in secret you show partiality.
11 Wouldn't his majesty scare you and dread of him fall on you?
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Will not his majesty terrify you, and the dread of him fall upon you?
12 Your old sayings are proverbs made of ashes, your sayings defenses made of clay.
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Your maxims are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay.
13 Be quiet and I will speak, come what may.
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“Let me have silence, and I will speak, and let come on me what may.
14 For what reason will I take my flesh in my teeth, put my life in jeopardy?
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Why should I take my flesh in my teeth and put my life in my hand?
15 He will slay me; I'm without hope; I will surely prove my way to his face.
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Though he slay me, I will hope in him; yet I will argue my ways to his face.
16 Also this will be my vindication, that a godless person won't come before him.
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This will be my salvation, that the godless shall not come before him.
17 Listen closely to my words so that my remarks will be in your ears.
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Keep listening to my words, and let my declaration be in your ears.
18 Look, I have laid out my case; I know that I'm innocent.
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Behold, I have prepared my case; I know that I shall be in the right.
19 Who would dare contend with me, for then I would be quiet and die.
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Who is there who will contend with me? For then I would be silent and die.
20 Only don't do two things to me, then I won't hide from your face.
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Only grant me two things, then I will not hide myself from your face:
21 Remove your hand far from me and don't terrify me with your anger.
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withdraw your hand far from me, and let not dread of you terrify me.
22 Then call and I'll answer, or I'll speak and you can reply.
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Then call, and I will answer; or let me speak, and you reply to me.
23 How many are my offenses and sins? Inform me about my rebellions and sins.
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How many are my iniquities and my sins? Make me know my transgression and my sin.
24 Why hide your face from me and consider me your enemy?
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Why do you hide your face and count me as your enemy?
25 Will you cause a wind-tossed leaf to tremble, or will you pursue dry straw?
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Will you frighten a driven leaf and pursue dry chaff?
26 You even write bitter things about me, make me inherit my youthful indiscretions.
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For you write bitter things against me and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.
27 You tie up my feet and restrict all actions; you stamp marks on the bottom of my feet.
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You put my feet in the stocks and watch all my paths; you set a limit for the soles of my feet.
28 Surely a person wastes away like refuse, like clothing that a moth eats.
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Man wastes away like a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025