King James Version KJV
The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
1 Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it.
1
"All this I have seen with my own eyes; with my own ears I have heard and understood it.
2 What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you.
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Whatever you know, I know too; I am not inferior to you.
3 Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.
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However, it's Shaddai I want to speak with; I want to prove my case to God.
4 But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.
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But you, what you do is whitewash with lies; you are all witch doctors!
5 O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.
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I wish you would just stay silent; for you, that would be wisdom!
6 Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.
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"Now listen to my reasoning, pay attention to how I present my dispute.
7 Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?
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Is it for God's sake that you speak so wickedly? for him that you talk deceitfully?
8 Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God?
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Do you need to take his side and plead God's case for him?
9 Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him?
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If he examines you, will all go well? Can you deceive him, as one man deceives another?
10 He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.
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If you are secretly flattering [him], he will surely rebuke you.
11 Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you?
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Doesn't God's majesty terrify you? Aren't you overcome with dread of him?
12 Your remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.
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Your maxims are garbage-proverbs; your answers crumble like clay.
13 Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.
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"So be quiet! Let me be! I'll do the talking, come on me what may!
14 Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?
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Why am I taking my flesh in my teeth, taking my life in my hands?
15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
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Look, he will kill me - I don't expect more, but I will still defend my ways to his face.
16 He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.
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And this is what will save me -that a hypocrite cannot appear before him.
17 Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.
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"Listen closely, then, to my words; pay attention to what I am saying.
18 Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.
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Here, now, I have prepared my case; I know I am in the right.
19 Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.
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If anyone can contend with me, I will be quiet and die!
20 Only do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from thee.
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"Only grant two things to me, God; then I won't hide myself from your face -
21 Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid.
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take your hand away from me, and don't let fear of you frighten me.
22 Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me.
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Then, if you call, I will answer. Or let me speak, and you, answer me!
23 How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin.
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How many crimes and sins have I committed? Make me know my transgression and sin.
24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy?
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Why do you hide your face and think of me as your enemy?
25 Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?
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Do you want to harass a wind-driven leaf? do you want to pursue a dry straw?
26 For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth.
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Is this why you draw up bitter charges against me and punish me for the faults of my youth?
27 Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet.
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You put my feet in the stocks, you watch me closely wherever I go, you trace out each footprint of mine
28 And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth eaten.
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though [my body] decays like something rotten or like a moth-eaten garment.