20 Even if I were innocent, my mouth would condemn me;

if I were blameless, it would pronounce me guilty.

21 “Although I am blameless,

I have no concern for myself;

I despise my own life.

22 It is all the same; that is why I say,

‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’

20 If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me:

If I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.

21 Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul:

I would despise my life.

22 This is one thing, therefore I said it,

He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

20 Though I am innocent, my own mouth would pronounce me guilty.

Though I am blameless, it would prove me wicked.

21 “I am innocent,

but it makes no difference to me—

I despise my life.

22 Innocent or wicked, it is all the same to God.

That’s why I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’

20 Though I were righteous, my own mouth would condemn me;

Though I were blameless, it would prove me perverse.

21 “I am blameless, yet I do not know myself;

I despise my life.

22 It is all one thing;

Therefore I say, ‘He destroys the blameless and the wicked.’

20 Even if I were right, my own mouth would say I was wrong;

if I were innocent, my mouth would say I was guilty.

21 “I am innocent,

but I don’t care about myself.

I hate my own life.

22 It is all the same. That is why I say,

‘God destroys both the innocent and the guilty.’

20 Though I be righteous, mine own mouth shall condemn me:

Though I be perfect, it shall prove me perverse.

21 I am perfect; I regard not myself;

I despise my life.

22 It is all one; therefore I say,

He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

20 If I justified myself, mine own mouth would condemn me; were I perfect, he would prove me perverse. 21 Were I perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.

22 It is all one; therefore I said, he destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

20 If I am righteous, my own mouth would condemn me. 

It would declare that I am corrupt even if I am a man of integrity. 

21 If I am a man of integrity, I have no way of knowing it. 

I hate my life! 

22 It is all the same. 

That is why I say, 

‘He destroys ⸤both⸥ the man of integrity and the wicked.’ 

20 Even if I were in the right, my own mouth would condemn me;

if I were blameless, my mouth would declare me guilty.

21 Though I am blameless,

I no longer care about myself;

I renounce my life.

22 It is all the same. Therefore I say,

“He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.”

20 Though I am innocent, my own mouth would condemn me;

though I am blameless, he would prove me perverse.

21 I am blameless; I do not know myself;

I loathe my life.

22 It is all one; therefore I say,

he destroys both the blameless and the wicked.

20 Even though I am righteous, my mouth will condemn me;

even though I am blameless, yet it would pronounce me guilty.

21 “I am blameless; I do not care about myself;

I loathe my life.

22 It is all one; therefore I say,

‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’

20 Even if I hadn’t sinned, what I said would prove me guilty.

Even if I were honest, my words would show that I’m wrong.

21 “Even though I’m honest,

I’m not concerned about myself.

I hate my own life.

22 It all amounts to the same thing. That’s why I say,

‘God destroys honest people and sinful people alike.’

20 “Though I am righteous, my mouth will condemn me;

Though I am guiltless, He will declare me guilty.

21 “I am guiltless;

I do not take notice of myself;

I despise my life.

22 “It is all one; therefore I say,

‘He destroys the guiltless and the wicked.’