King James New American Standard Bible
  • 1 Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it.
  • 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.
  • 4 But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.
  • 5 O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.
  • 6 Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.
  • 7 Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?
  • 8 Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God?
  • 9 Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him?
  • 10 He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.
  • 11 Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you?
  • 12 Your remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.
  • 13 Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.
  • 14 Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?
  • 15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
  • 16 He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.
  • 17 Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.
  • 18 Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.
  • 19 Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.
  • 20 Only do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from thee.
  • 21 Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid.
  • 22 Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me.
  • 23 How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin.
  • 24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy?
  • 25 Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?
  • 26 For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities 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.
  • 28 And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth eaten.
  • 1 “Behold, my eye has seen all this, My ear has heard and understood it.
  • 2 “What you know I also know; I am not inferior to you.
  • 3 “But I would speak to the Almighty, And I desire to argue with God.
  • 4 “But you smear with lies; You are all worthless physicians.
  • 5 “O that you would be completely silent, And that it would become your wisdom!
  • 6 “Please hear my argument And listen to the contentions of my lips.
  • 7 “Will you speak what is unjust for God, And speak what is deceitful for Him?
  • 8 “Will you show partiality for Him? Will you contend for God?
  • 9 “Will it be well when He examines you? Or will you deceive Him as one deceives a man?
  • 10 “He will surely reprove you If you secretly show partiality.
  • 11 “Will not His majesty terrify you, And the dread of Him fall on you?
  • 12 “Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes, Your defenses are defenses of clay.
  • 13 “Be silent before me so that I may speak; Then let come on me what may.
  • 14 “Why should I take my flesh in my teeth And put my life in my hands?
  • 15 “Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. Nevertheless I will argue my ways before Him.
  • 16 “This also will be my salvation, For a godless man may not come before His presence.
  • 17 “Listen carefully to my speech, And let my declaration fill your ears.
  • 18 “Behold now, I have prepared my case; I know that I will be vindicated.
  • 19 “Who will contend with me? For then I would be silent and die.
  • 20 “Only two things do not do to me, Then I will not hide from Your face:
  • 21 Remove Your hand from me, And let not the dread of You terrify me.
  • 22 “Then call, and I will answer; Or let me speak, then reply to me.
  • 23 “How many are my iniquities and sins? Make known to me my rebellion and my sin.
  • 24 “Why do You hide Your face And consider me Your enemy?
  • 25 “Will You cause a driven leaf to tremble? Or will You pursue the dry chaff?
  • 26 “For You write bitter things against me And make me to inherit the iniquities of my youth.
  • 27 “You put my feet in the stocks And watch all my paths; You set a limit for the soles of my feet,
  • 28 While I am decaying like a rotten thing, Like a garment that is moth-eaten.
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Used by permission.