Common English Bible CEB
New Revised Standard NRS
1 Look, my eye has seen it all; my ear has heard and understood it.
1
"Look, 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; all of you are worthless physicians.
5 Would that you were completely quiet; that would be your wisdom.
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If you would only keep silent, that would be your wisdom!
6 Hear my teaching and pay attention to the arguments of my lips.
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Hear now my reasoning, 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 person deceives another?
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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I will 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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See, he will kill me; I have no hope; but I will defend 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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Listen carefully 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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I have indeed prepared my case; I know that I shall be vindicated.
19 Who would dare contend with me, for then I would be quiet and die.
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Who is there that 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 two things to me, 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 do not let 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 windblown 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 reap 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 bound to the soles of my feet.
28 Surely a person wastes away like refuse, like clothing that a moth eats.
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One wastes away like a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, 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.