| New King James Version | New International Version |
| 1“Behold, my eye has seen all this, My ear has heard and understood it. | 1"My eyes have seen all this, my ears have heard and understood it. |
| 2What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you. | 2What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you. |
| 3But I would speak to the Almighty, And I desire to reason with God. | 3But I desire to speak to the Almighty and to argue my case with God. |
| 4But you forgers of lies, You are all worthless physicians. | 4You, however, smear me with lies; you are worthless physicians, all of you! |
| 5Oh, that you would be silent, And it would be your wisdom! | 5If only you would be altogether silent! For you, that would be wisdom. |
| 6Now hear my reasoning, And heed the pleadings of my lips. | 6Hear now my argument; listen to the pleas of my lips. |
| 7Will you speak wickedly for God, And talk deceitfully for Him? | 7Will you speak wickedly on God's behalf? Will you speak deceitfully for him? |
| 8Will you show partiality for Him? Will you contend for God? | 8Will you show him partiality? Will you argue the case for God? |
| 9Will it be well when He searches you out? Or can you mock Him as one mocks a man? | 9Would it turn out well if he examined you? Could you deceive him as you might deceive a mortal? |
| 10He will surely rebuke you If you secretly show partiality. | 10He would surely call you to account if you secretly showed partiality. |
| 11Will not His excellence make you afraid, And the dread of Him fall upon you? | 11Would not his splendor terrify you? Would not the dread of him fall on you? |
| 12Your platitudes are proverbs of ashes, Your defenses are defenses of clay. | 12Your maxims are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay. |
| 13“Hold your peace with me, and let me speak, Then let come on me what may! | 13"Keep silent and let me speak; then let come to me what may. |
| 14Why do I take my flesh in my teeth, And put my life in my hands? | 14Why do I put myself in jeopardy and take my life in my hands? |
| 15Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him. | 15Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face. |
| 16He also shall be my salvation, For a hypocrite could not come before Him. | 16Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance, for no godless person would dare come before him! |
| 17Listen carefully to my speech, And to my declaration with your ears. | 17Listen carefully to what I say; let my words ring in your ears. |
| 18See now, I have prepared my case, I know that I shall be vindicated. | 18Now that I have prepared my case, I know I will be vindicated. |
| 19Who is he who will contend with me? If now I hold my tongue, I perish. | 19Can anyone bring charges against me? If so, I will be silent and die. |
| 20“Only two things do not do to me, Then I will not hide myself from You: | 20"Only grant me these two things, God, and then I will not hide from you: |
| 21Withdraw Your hand far from me, And let not the dread of You make me afraid. | 21Withdraw your hand far from me, and stop frightening me with your terrors. |
| 22Then call, and I will answer; Or let me speak, then You respond to me. | 22Then summon me and I will answer, or let me speak, and you reply to me. |
| 23How many are my iniquities and sins? Make me know my transgression and my sin. | 23How many wrongs and sins have I committed? Show me my offense and my sin. |
| 24Why do You hide Your face, And regard me as Your enemy? | 24Why do you hide your face and consider me your enemy? |
| 25Will You frighten a leaf driven to and fro? And will You pursue dry stubble? | 25Will you torment a windblown leaf? Will you chase after dry chaff? |
| 26For You write bitter things against me, And make me inherit the iniquities of my youth. | 26For you write down bitter things against me and make me reap the sins of my youth. |
| 27You put my feet in the stocks, And watch closely all my paths. You set a limit for the soles of my feet. | 27You fasten my feet in shackles; you keep close watch on all my paths by putting marks on the soles of my feet. |
| 28“Man decays like a rotten thing, Like a garment that is moth-eaten. | 28"So man wastes away like something rotten, like a garment eaten by moths. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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