GOD'S WORD Translation GW
New King James Version NKJV
1 "My eye has certainly seen all of this! My ear has heard and understood it.
1
"Behold, my eye has seen all this, My ear has heard and understood it.
2 After all, I know it as well as you do. I am not inferior to you.
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What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you.
3 However, I want to speak to the Almighty, and I wish to argue my case in front of God.
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But I would speak to the Almighty, And I desire to reason with God.
4 But you are smearing me with lies. All of you are worthless physicians.
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But you forgers of lies, You are all worthless physicians.
5 I wish you would keep silent. For you, that would be wisdom.
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Oh, that you would be silent, And it would be your wisdom!
6 Please listen to my argument, and pay attention to my plea.
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Now hear my reasoning, And heed the pleadings of my lips.
7 "Will you talk wickedly for God and talk deceitfully on his behalf?
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Will you speak wickedly for God, And talk deceitfully for Him?
8 Will you favor him [as] if you were arguing in court on God's behalf?
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Will you show partiality for Him? Will you contend for God?
9 Will it go well when he cross-examines you? Will you try to trick him as one mortal tricks another?
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Will it be well when He searches you out? Or can you mock Him as one mocks a man?
10 Will he really defend you if you secretly favor [him]?
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He will surely rebuke you If you secretly show partiality.
11 Doesn't his majesty terrify you? Doesn't the fear of him fall upon you?
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Will not His excellence make you afraid, And the dread of Him fall upon you?
12 "Your recollections are worthless proverbs. Your answers are absolutely useless.
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Your platitudes are proverbs of ashes, Your defenses are defenses of clay.
13 Be quiet, because I want to speak. Let whatever may happen to me [happen]!
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"Hold your peace with me, and let me speak, Then let come on me what may!
14 I am biting off more than I can chew and taking my life in my own hands.
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Why do I take my flesh in my teeth, And put my life in my hands?
15 If God would kill me, I would have no hope [left]. Nevertheless, I will defend my behavior to his face.
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Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.
16 This also will be my salvation because no godless person could face him.
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He also shall be my salvation, For a hypocrite could not come before Him.
17 "Listen carefully to my words. Hear my declaration.
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Listen carefully to my speech, And to my declaration with your ears.
18 I have prepared my case. I know that I will be declared righteous.
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See now, I have prepared my case, I know that I shall be vindicated.
19 Who can make a case against me? If someone could, I'd be silent and die.
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Who is he who will contend with me? If now I hold my tongue, I perish.
20 "Please don't do two things to me so that I won't have to hide from you:
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"Only two things do not do to me, Then I will not hide myself from You:
21 Stop oppressing me. Don't let your terror frighten me.
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Withdraw Your hand far from me, And let not the dread of You make me afraid.
22 Then call, and I'll answer. Otherwise, I'll speak, and you'll answer me.
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Then call, and I will answer; Or let me speak, then You respond to me.
23 How many crimes and sins have I committed? Make me aware of my disobedience and my sin.
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How many are my iniquities and sins? Make me know my transgression and my sin.
24 Why do you hide your face [from me] and consider me your enemy?
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Why do You hide Your face, And regard me as Your enemy?
25 Are you trying to make a fluttering leaf tremble or trying to chase dry husks?
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Will You frighten a leaf driven to and fro? And will You pursue dry stubble?
26 You write down bitter accusations against me. You make me suffer for the sins of my youth.
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For You write bitter things against me, And make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.
27 You put my feet in shackles. You follow my trail by engraving marks on the soles of my feet.
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You put my feet in the stocks, And watch closely all my paths. You set a limit for the soles of my feet.
28 I am like worn-out wineskins, like moth-eaten clothes.
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"Man decays like a rotten thing, Like a garment that is moth-eaten.