1 Indeed, my eyes have seen all this, my ears have heard and understood it.

Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it.

2 What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you.

What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you.

3 But I desire to speak to the Almighty, and I wish to reason with God.

Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.

4 Yet you, however, are smearers of falsehood; all of you are worthless physicians.

But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.

5 If only you would keep silent, it would be wisdom for you.

O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.

6 Listen now to my argument and pay attention to the contentions of my lips.

Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.

7 Will you speak unjustly on God's behalf and speak deceitfully for Him?

Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?

8 Will you show Him partiality or argue the case for God?

Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God?

9 Would it be well when He examines you? Could you deceive Him as you deceive a mortal?

Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him?

10 He will surely rebuke you if you secretly show partiality.

He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.

11 Wouldn't His majesty terrify you, and the dread of Him fall upon you?

Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you?

12 Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay.

Your remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.

13 Be silent and let me speak. Whatever happens to me, let it come!

Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.

14 Why should I take my flesh in my teeth and put my life in my hands?

Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?

15 Though He slay me, yet I will hope in Him. Nevertheless, I will defend my ways before Him.

Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

16 Indeed, this will be my salvation, for no godless person would come before Him.

He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.

17 Listen carefully to my words and let my declaration enter your ears.

Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.

18 See now, I have prepared my case; I know I will be vindicated.

Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.

19 Who can contend with me? For now, if I am silent, I will perish.

Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.

20 Only grant me these two things, so that I will not hide myself from You:

Only do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from thee.

21 Withdraw Your hand from me, and do not let Your terror frighten me.

Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid.

22 Then call, and I will answer, or let me speak, and You respond to me.

Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me.

23 How many are my iniquities and sins? Reveal my transgression and my sin to me.

How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin.

24 Why do You hide Your face and consider me as Your enemy?

Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy?

25 Will You terrify a wind-driven leaf and pursue dry chaff?

Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?

26 For You write bitter things against me and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.

For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth.

27 You put my feet in shackles and watch all my ways; You set a limit for the soles of my feet.

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 So man wastes away like something rotten, like a garment eaten by moths.

And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth eaten.