American Standard Version of 1901
Versliste
For he hath not directed his words against me;Neither will I answer him with your speeches.
They are amazed, they answer no more:They have not a word to say.
And shall I wait, because they speak not,Because they stand still, and answer no more?
I also will answer my part,I also will show mine opinion.
For I am full of words;The spirit within me constraineth me.
Behold, my breast is as wine which hath no vent;Like new wine-skins {Or, which are ready}it is ready to burst.
I will speak, that I may {Or, find relief}be refreshed;I will open my lips and answer.
Let me not, I pray you, respect any man's person;Neither will I give flattering titles unto any man.
For I know not to give flattering titles;Else would my Maker soon take me away.
My anguish, my anguish! {Another reading is, I will wait patiently}I am pained at {Hebrew: the walls of my heart.}my very heart; my heart is disquieted in me; I cannot hold my peace; because {Or, as otherwised read, my soul heareth}thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.
And if I say, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name, then there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with forbearing, and I cannot contain.
For if I {See marginal note on chapter 1:17.}preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of; for necessity is laid upon me; for woe is unto me, if I {See marginal note on chapter 1:17.}preach not the gospel.
I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, {Or, and had no comfort Hebrew: away from good.}even from good;And my sorrow was stirred.
My heart was hot within me;While I was musing the fire burned:Then spake I with my tongue:
For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that one died for all, therefore all died;
Let the word of {Some ancient authorities read the Lord: others, God.}Christ dwell in you {Or, richly in all wisdom; teaching &c.}richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing {Or, yourselves}one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto God.
For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? or am I striving to please men? if I were still pleasing men, I should not be a {Greek: bondservant.}servant of Christ.
But from those who {Or, are}were reputed to be somewhat ( {Or, what they once were}whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth not man's person)—they, I say, who were of repute imparted nothing to me:
Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; ye shall hear the small and the great alike; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God's: and the cause that is too hard for you ye shall bring unto me, and I will hear it.
For Jehovah your God, he is God of gods, and Lord of lords, the great God, the mighty, and the terrible, who regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward.
Thou shalt not wrest justice: thou shalt not respect persons; neither shalt thou take a bribe; for a bribe doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the {Or, cause}words of the righteous.
Now therefore let the fear of Jehovah be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with Jehovah our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of bribes.
I charge thee in the sight of God, and Christ Jesus, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without {Or, preferences}prejudice, doing nothing by partiality.