New Century Version NCV
The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
1 "Now my eyes have seen all this; my ears have heard and understood it.
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"All this I have seen with my own eyes; with my own ears I have heard and understood it.
2 What you know, I also know. You are not better than I am.
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Whatever you know, I know too; I am not inferior to you.
3 But I want to speak to the Almighty and to argue my case 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 you smear me with lies. You are worthless doctors, all of you!
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But you, what you do is whitewash with lies; you are all witch doctors!
5 I wish you would just stop talking; then you would really be wise!
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I wish you would just stay silent; for you, that would be wisdom!
6 Listen to my argument, and hear the pleading of my lips.
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"Now listen to my reasoning, pay attention to how I present my dispute.
7 You should not speak evil in the name of God; you cannot speak God's truth by telling lies.
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Is it for God's sake that you speak so wickedly? for him that you talk deceitfully?
8 You should not unfairly choose his side against mine; you should not argue the case for God.
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Do you need to take his side and plead God's case for him?
9 You will not do well if he examines you; you cannot fool God as you might fool humans.
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If he examines you, will all go well? Can you deceive him, as one man deceives another?
10 God would surely scold you if you unfairly took one person's side.
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If you are secretly flattering [him], he will surely rebuke you.
11 His bright glory would scare you, and you would be very much afraid of him.
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Doesn't God's majesty terrify you? Aren't you overcome with dread of him?
12 Your wise sayings are worth no more than ashes, and your arguments are as weak as clay.
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Your maxims are garbage-proverbs; your answers crumble like clay.
13 "Be quiet and let me speak. Let things happen to me as they will.
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"So be quiet! Let me be! I'll do the talking, come on me what may!
14 Why should I put myself in danger and take my life in my own hands?
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Why am I taking my flesh in my teeth, taking my life in my hands?
15 Even if God kills me, I have hope in him; I will still defend my ways to his face.
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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 This is my salvation. The wicked cannot come before him.
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And this is what will save me -that a hypocrite cannot appear before him.
17 Listen carefully to my words; let your ears hear what I say.
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"Listen closely, then, to my words; pay attention to what I am saying.
18 See, I have prepared my case, and I know I will be proved right.
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Here, now, I have prepared my case; I know I am in the right.
19 No one can accuse me of doing wrong. If someone can, I will be quiet and die.
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If anyone can contend with me, I will be quiet and die!
20 "God, please just give me these two things, and then I will not hide from you:
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"Only grant two things to me, God; then I won't hide myself from your face -
21 Take your punishment away from me, and stop frightening me with your terrors.
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take your hand away from me, and don't let fear of you frighten me.
22 Then call me, and I will answer, or let me speak, and you answer.
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Then, if you call, I will answer. Or let me speak, and you, answer me!
23 How many evil things and sins have I done? Show me my wrong and my sin.
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How many crimes and sins have I committed? Make me know my transgression and sin.
24 Don't hide your face from me; don't think of me as your enemy.
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Why do you hide your face and think of me as your enemy?
25 Don't punish a leaf that is blown by the wind; don't chase after straw.
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Do you want to harass a wind-driven leaf? do you want to pursue a dry straw?
26 You write down cruel things against me and make me suffer for my boyhood sins.
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Is this why you draw up bitter charges against me and punish me for the faults of my youth?
27 You put my feet in chains and keep close watch wherever I go. You even mark the soles 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 "Everyone wears out like something rotten, like clothing eaten by moths.
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though [my body] decays like something rotten or like a moth-eaten garment.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.