| International Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1"Look, I've seen everything; I've listened carefully and I understand. | 1"Indeed, my eyes have seen all this, my ears have heard and understood it. |
| 2What you know, I know, too; I'm not inferior to you. | 2What you know, I know also; I am not inferior to you! |
| 3But I want to talk to the Almighty; and I'm determined to argue my case before God." | 3But I wish to speak to the Almighty, and I desire to argue my case with God. |
| 4"But as for you, you whitewash with lies; all of you are worthless quacks. | 4But you, however, are inventors of lies; all of you are worthless physicians! |
| 5I wish you'd all just shut up. Then at least you would appear to be wise. | 5If only you would keep completely silent! For you, that would be wisdom. |
| 6"Now listen to my dispute! Pay attention to my arguments. | 6"Listen now to my argument, and be attentive to my lips' contentions. |
| 7Why do you speak falsely on God's behalf and speak deceitfully about him? | 7Will you speak wickedly on God's behalf? Will you speak deceitfully for him? |
| 8Will you show partiality to him? Will you plead God's case? | 8Will you show him partiality? Will you argue the case for God? |
| 9Will things go well for you under his cross-examination? Can you lie to him, as you would to a human being? | 9Would it turn out well if he would examine you? Or as one deceives a man would you deceive him? |
| 10"He will be sure to rebuke you, if you show partiality in secret. | 10He would certainly rebuke you if you secretly showed partiality! |
| 11His splendor will petrify you with terror, paralyzing you with fear, won't it? | 11Would not his splendor terrify you and the fear he inspires fall on you? |
| 12Your maxims are just worthless proverbs; your defensive arguments are made of clay." | 12Your maxims are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay. |
| 13"Don't talk to me! It's my turn to speak; then whatever happens, happens. | 13"Refrain from talking with me so that I may speak; then let come to me what may. |
| 14Why shouldn't I bite my flesh or take my life in my hands? | 14Why do I put myself in peril, and take my life in my hands? |
| 15Even though he kills me, I'll continue to hope in him. At least I'll be able to argue my case to his face! | 15Even if he slays me, I will hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face! |
| 16I have this as my salvation: the godless person won't be appearing before him. | 16Moreover, this will become my deliverance, for no godless person would come before him. |
| 17Pay attention to what I have to say and listen to my testimony with your own ears." | 17Listen carefully to my words; let your ears be attentive to my explanation. |
| 18"Look, now! I've prepared my case for court. I know that I'm going to win. | 18See now, I have prepared my case; I know that I am right. |
| 19Who can oppose me? If they do, I'll be silent and die. | 19Who will contend with me? If anyone can, I will be silent and die. |
| 20Grant me only two things as you deal with me; then I won't hide from you. | 20Only in two things spare me, O God, and then I will not hide from your face: |
| 21Withdraw your hand far from me and keep me from being petrified with terror. | 21Remove your hand far from me and stop making me afraid with your terror. |
| 22Then call and I'll answer, or let me speak and then you reply to me!" | 22Then call, and I will answer, or I will speak, and you respond to me. |
| 23"How many of my iniquities and sins have you counted? Show me my transgression and sin. | 23How many are my iniquities and sins? Show me my transgression and my sin. |
| 24Why do you hide your face and regard me as your enemy? | 24Why do you hide your face and regard me as your enemy? |
| 25Are you a god who would make a leaf tremble or who would prosecute a dry straw? | 25Do you wish to torment a windblown leaf and chase after dry chaff? |
| 26You've accused me of bitter things; you've caused me to reap the sins of my youth. | 26For you write down bitter things against me and cause me to inherit the sins of my youth. |
| 27You've locked my feet in stocks; you watch all my steps; You've limited where I can walk. | 27And you put my feet in the stocks and you watch all my movements; you put marks on the soles of my feet. |
| 28So I'm a man who wears out like something rotten, like a garment that has become moth-eaten." | 28So I waste away like something rotten, like a garment eaten by moths. |
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