King James Version KJV
Good News Translation GNT
1 Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it.
1
Everything you say, I have heard before. I understand it all; I know as much as you do. I'm not your inferior.
2 What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you.
3 Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.
3
But my dispute is with God, not you; I want to argue my case with him.
4 But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.
4
You cover up your ignorance with lies; you are like doctors who can't heal anyone.
5 O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.
5
Say nothing, and someone may think you are wise!
6 Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.
6
Listen while I state my case.
7 Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?
7
Why are you lying? Do you think your lies will benefit God?
8 Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God?
8
Are you trying to defend him? Are you going to argue his case in court?
9 Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him?
9
If God looks at you closely, will he find anything good? Do you think you can fool God the way you fool others?
10 He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.
10
Even though your prejudice is hidden, he will reprimand you,
11 Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you?
11
and his power will fill you with terror.
12 Your remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.
12
Your proverbs are as useless as ashes; your arguments are as weak as clay.
13 Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.
13
Be quiet and give me a chance to speak, and let the results be what they will.
14 Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?
14
I am ready to risk my life.
15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
15
I've lost all hope, so what if God kills me? I am going to state my case to him.
16 He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.
16
It may even be that my boldness will save me, since no wicked person would dare to face God.
17 Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.
17
Now listen to my words of explanation.
18 Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.
18
I am ready to state my case, because 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.
19
Are you coming to accuse me, God? If you do, I am ready to be silent and die.
20 Only do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from thee.
20
Let me ask for two things; agree to them, and I will not try to hide from you:
21 Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid.
21
stop punishing me, and don't crush me with terror.
22 Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me.
22
Speak first, O God, and 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.
23
What are my sins? What wrongs have I done? What crimes am I charged with?
24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy?
24
Why do you avoid me? Why do you treat me like an enemy?
25 Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?
25
Are you trying to frighten me? I'm nothing but a leaf; you are attacking a piece of dry straw.
26 For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth.
26
You bring bitter charges against me, even for what I did when I was young.
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.
27
You bind chains on my feet; you watch every step I take, and even examine my footprints.
28 And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth eaten.
28
As a result, I crumble like rotten wood, like a moth-eaten coat.
The King James Version is in the public domain.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.