New Revised Standard NRS
Common English Bible CEB
1 "Look, my eye has seen all this, my ear has heard and understood it.
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Look, my eye has seen it all; my ear has heard and understood it.
2 What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you.
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Just as you know, I also know; I'm not inferior to you.
3 But I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to argue my case with God.
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But I want to speak to the Almighty; I would gladly present my case to God.
4 As for you, you whitewash with lies; all of you are worthless physicians.
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You, however, are plasterers of lies; ineffective healers, all of you.
5 If you would only keep silent, that would be your wisdom!
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Would that you were completely quiet; that would be your wisdom.
6 Hear now my reasoning, and listen to the pleadings of my lips.
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Hear my teaching and pay attention to the arguments of my lips.
7 Will you speak falsely for God, and speak deceitfully for him?
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Will you speak injustice for God, speak deceit on his behalf?
8 Will you show partiality toward him, will you plead the case for God?
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Will you be partial or contend for God?
9 Will it be well with you when he searches you out? Or can you deceive him, as one person deceives another?
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Will it go well when he searches you, or can you fool him as you fool people?
10 He will surely rebuke you if in secret you show partiality.
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He will certainly correct you if you've been secretly partial.
11 Will not his majesty terrify you, and the dread of him fall upon you?
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Wouldn't his majesty scare you and dread of him fall on you?
12 Your maxims are proverbs of ashes, your defenses are defenses of clay.
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Your old sayings are proverbs made of ashes, your sayings defenses made of clay.
13 "Let me have silence, and I will speak, and let come on me what may.
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Be quiet and I will speak, come what may.
14 I will take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand.
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For what reason will I take my flesh in my teeth, put my life in jeopardy?
15 See, he will kill me; I have no hope; but I will defend my ways to his face.
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He will slay me; I'm without hope; I will surely prove my way to his face.
16 This will be my salvation, that the godless shall not come before him.
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Also this will be my vindication, that a godless person won't come before him.
17 Listen carefully to my words, and let my declaration be in your ears.
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Listen closely to my words so that my remarks will be in your ears.
18 I have indeed prepared my case; I know that I shall be vindicated.
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Look, I have laid out my case; I know that I'm innocent.
19 Who is there that will contend with me? For then I would be silent and die.
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Who would dare contend with me, for then I would be quiet and die.
20 Only grant two things to me, then I will not hide myself from your face:
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Only don't do two things to me, then I won't hide from your face.
21 withdraw your hand far from me, and do not let dread of you terrify me.
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Remove your hand far from me and don't terrify me with your anger.
22 Then call, and I will answer; or let me speak, and you reply to me.
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Then call and I'll answer, or I'll speak and you can reply.
23 How many are my iniquities and my sins? Make me know my transgression and my sin.
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How many are my offenses and sins? Inform me about my rebellions and sins.
24 Why do you hide your face, and count me as your enemy?
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Why hide your face from me and consider me your enemy?
25 Will you frighten a windblown leaf and pursue dry chaff?
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Will you cause a wind-tossed leaf to tremble, or will you pursue dry straw?
26 For you write bitter things against me, and make me reap the iniquities of my youth.
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You even write bitter things about me, make me inherit my youthful indiscretions.
27 You put my feet in the stocks, and watch all my paths; you set a bound to the soles of my feet.
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You tie up my feet and restrict all actions; you stamp marks on the bottom of my feet.
28 One wastes away like a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten.
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Surely a person wastes away like refuse, like clothing that a moth eats.
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.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible