English Standard Version

King James Bible

1“Behold, my eye has seen all this, my ear has heard and understood it.

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

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

2What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you.

3But I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to argue my case with God.

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

4As for you, you whitewash with lies; worthless physicians are you all.

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

5Oh that you would keep silent, and it would be your wisdom!

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

6Hear now my argument and listen to the pleadings of my lips.

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

7Will you speak falsely for God and speak deceitfully for him?

7Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?

8Will you show partiality toward him? Will you plead the case for God?

8Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God?

9Will it be well with you when he searches you out? Or can you deceive him, as one deceives a man?

9Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him?

10He will surely rebuke you if in secret you show partiality.

10He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.

11Will not his majesty terrify you, and the dread of him fall upon you?

11Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you?

12Your maxims are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay.

12Your remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.

13“Let me have silence, and I will speak, and let come on me what may.

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

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

14Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?

15Though he slay me, I will hope in him; yet I will argue my ways to his face.

15Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

16This will be my salvation, that the godless shall not come before him.

16He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.

17Keep listening to my words, and let my declaration be in your ears.

17Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.

18Behold, I have prepared my case; I know that I shall be in the right.

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

19Who is there who will contend with me? For then I would be silent and die.

19Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.

20Only grant me two things, then I will not hide myself from your face:

20Only do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from thee.

21withdraw your hand far from me, and let not dread of you terrify me.

21Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid.

22Then call, and I will answer; or let me speak, and you reply to me.

22Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me.

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

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

24Why do you hide your face and count me as your enemy?

24Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy?

25Will you frighten a driven leaf and pursue dry chaff?

25Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?

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

26For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth.

27You put my feet in the stocks and watch all my paths; you set a limit for the soles of my feet.

27Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet.

28Man wastes away like a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten.

28And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth eaten.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.