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

1  Behold, mine eye has seen these things, and mine ear has heard them.

1  Behold, my eye has seen all these things, and my ear has heard, and I have understood each one.

2  What ye know, do I know also; I am not inferior unto you.

2  And I know all that ye too know; and I have not less understanding than you.

2  In conformity with your knowledge, I also know. I am not inferior to you.

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

3  Nevertheless I will speak to the Lord, and I will reason before him, if he will.

3  But I would speak to the Almighty, and with my reproof would I reason with God.

4  But ye are plasterers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.

4  having first shown that you fabricate lies and cultivate perverse teachings.

5  Oh that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it would be your wisdom.

5  But would that ye were silent, and it would be wisdom to you in the end.

5  And I wish that you would remain silent, so that you would be counted among the wise.

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

6  But hear ye the reasoning of my mouth, and attend to the judgement of my lips.

6  Therefore, listen to my correction, and pay attention to the judgment of my lips.

7  Will ye speak unrighteously for God, and talk deceitfully for Him?

7  Do ye not speak before the Lord, and utter deceit before him?

7  Does God require your lie, so that you would speak deceitfully for him?

8  Will ye show Him favour? Will ye contend for God?

8  Or will ye draw back? nay do, ye yourselves be judges.

8  Have you taken his place, and do you struggle to give judgment in favor of God?

9  Would it be good that He should search you out? Or as one mocketh a man, will ye mock Him?

9  For it were well if he would thoroughly search you: for though doing all things in your power ye should attach yourselves to him,

9  Or, will it please him, from whom nothing can be concealed? Or, will he be deceived, like a man, by your deceitfulness?

10  He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly show favour.

10  he will not reprove you at all the less: but if moreover ye should secretly respect persons,

10  He will accuse you because in secret you have preempted his presence.

11  Shall not His majesty terrify you, and His dread fall upon you?

11  As soon as he moves himself, he will disturb you, and his dread will fall over you.

11  His excellency shall seek vengeance of you, and his terror will fall upon you.

12  Your memorials shall be like unto ashes, your eminences to eminences of clay.

12  And your glorying shall prove in the end to you like ashes, and your body like a body of clay.

12  Remember that your power is from the earth, and your dwelling place is of clay.

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

13  Be silent, that I may speak, and cease from mine anger,

13  Be silent for a little while, so that I may speak whatever my mind suggests to me.

14  Wherefore? I will take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand.

14  Why do I wound my flesh with my teeth, and carry my soul in my hands?

14  Why am I so afflicted, and why is my life exposed to danger?

15  Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him; but I will argue my ways before Him.

15  Though the Mighty One should lay hand upon me, forasmuch as he has begun, verily I will speak, and plead before him.

15  And now, if he would kill me, I will hope in him; in this, truly, I will correct my ways in his sight.

16  This also shall be my salvation, that a hypocrite cannot come before Him.

16  And this shall turn to me for salvation; for fraud shall have no entrance before him.

16  And he will be my savior, for no hypocrite at all will approach in his sight.

17  Hear diligently my speech, and let my declaration be in your ears.

17  Listen to my words, and perceive an enigma with your ears.

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

18  Behold, I am near my judgement: I know that I shall appear evidently just.

18  If I will be judged, I know that I will be found to be just.

19  Who is he that will contend with me? For then would I hold my peace and die.

19  For who is he that shall plead with me, that I should now be silent, and expire?

19  Who is it that will go to judgment with me? Let him approach. Why should I be consumed in silence?

20  Only do not two things unto me, then will I not hide myself from Thee

20  But grant me two things: then I will not hide myself from thy face.

20  Do not do such things to me twice, and then I will not hide from your face.

21  Withdraw Thy hand far from me; and let not Thy terror make me afraid.

21  Withhold thine hand from me: and let not thy fear terrify me.

21  Take your hand far away from me, and do not let your dread terrify me.

22  Then call Thou, and I will answer; or let me speak, and answer Thou me.

22  Then shalt thou call, and I will hearken to thee: or thou shalt speak, and I will give thee an answer.

22  Call me, and I will answer you, or else I will speak, and you can answer me.

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

23  How many are my sins and my transgressions? teach me what they are.

23  How many iniquities and sins do I have? Reveal my crimes and offenses to me.

24  Wherefore hidest Thou Thy face, and holdest me for Thine enemy?

24  Why do you conceal your face and consider me to be your enemy?

25  Wilt Thou harass a driven leaf? And wilt Thou pursue the dry stubble?

25  Wilt thou be startled at me, as at a leaf shaken by the wind? or wilt thou set thyself against me as against grass borne upon the breeze?

25  Against a leaf, which is carried away by the wind, you reveal your power, and you pursue dry straw.

26  That Thou shouldest write bitter things against me, and make me to inherit the iniquities of my youth.

26  for thou hast written evil things against me, and thou hast compassed me with the sins of my youth.

26  For you write bitter things against me, and you want to consume me for the sins of my youth.

27  Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; Thou drawest Thee a line about the soles of my feet;

27  And thou hast placed my foot in the stocks; and thou hast watched all my works, and hast penetrated my heels.

27  You have put my feet on a tether, and you have observed all my paths, and you have considered the steps of my feet.

28  Though I am like a wine-skin that consumeth, like a garment that is moth-eaten.

28  I am as that which waxes old like a bottle, or like a moth-eaten garment.

28  I will be left to decay like something rotten and like a garment that is being eaten by moths.