Job 13
1 Lo, my eye has seen all this. My ear has heard and understood it.
Behold my eye hath seen all these things, and my ear hath heard them, and I have understood them all.
2 What ye know, I also know; I am not inferior to you.
According to your knowledge I also know: neither am I inferior to you.
3 Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.
But yet I will speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.
4 But ye are forgers of lies. Ye are all physicians of no value.
Having first shewn that you are forgers of lies, and maintainers of perverse opinions.
5 O that ye would altogether be silent! And it would be your wisdom.
And I wish you would hold your peace, that you might be thought to be wise men.
6 Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.
Hear ye therefore my reproof, and attend to the judgment of my lips.
7 Will ye speak unrighteously for God, and talk deceitfully for him?
Hath God any need of your lie, that you should speak deceitfully for him?
8 Will ye show partiality to him? Will ye contend for God?
Do you accept his person, and do you endeavour to judge for God?
9 Is it good that he should search you out? Or as deceiving a man, will ye deceive him?
Or shall it please him, from whom nothing can be concealed? or shall he be deceived as a man, with your deceitful dealings?
10 He will surely reprove you if ye secretly show partiality.
He shall reprove you, because in secret you accept his person.
11 Shall not his majesty make you afraid, and his dread fall upon you?
As soon as he shall move himself, he shall trouble you: and his dread shall fall upon you.
12 Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes. Your defenses are defenses of clay.
Your remembrance shall be compared to ashes, and your necks shall be brought to clay.
13 Be quiet. Let me alone that I may speak, and let come on me what will.
Hold your peace a little while, that I may speak whatsoever my mind shall suggest to me.
14 Why should I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand?
Why do I tear my flesh with my teeth, and carry my soul in my hands?
15 Behold, he will kill me; I have no hope. Nevertheless I will maintain my ways before him.
Although he should bill me, I will trust in him: but yet I will reprove my ways in his sight.
16 This also shall be my salvation, that a profane man shall not come before him.
And he shall be my saviour: for no hypocrite shall come before his presence.
17 Hear diligently my speech, and let my declaration be in your ears.
Hear ye my speech, and receive with Sour ears hidden truths.
18 Behold now, I have set my case in order. I know that I am righteous.
If I shall be judged, I know that I shall be found just.
19 Who is he who will contend with me? For then I would keep silent and give up the spirit.
Who is he that will plead against me? let him come: why am I consumed holding my peace?
20 Only do not do two things to me, then I will not hide myself from thy face:
Two things only do not to me, and then from thy face I shall not be hid:
21 Withdraw thy hand far from me, and do not let thy dread make me afraid.
Withdraw thy hand far from me, and let not thy dread terrify me.
22 Then call thou, and I will answer, or let me speak, and answer thou me.
Call me, and I will answer thee: or else I will speak, and do thou answer me.
23 How many are my iniquities and sins? Make me to know my transgression and my sin.
How many are my iniquities and sins? make me know my crimes and offences.
24 Why do thou hide thy face, and reckon me for thine enemy?
Why hidest thou thy face, and thinkest me thy enemy?
25 Will thou harass a driven leaf? And will thou pursue the dry stubble?
Against a leaf, that is carried away with the wind, thou shewest thy power, and thou pursuest a dry straw.
26 For thou write bitter things against me, and make me to inherit the iniquities of my youth.
For thou writest bitter things against me, and wilt consume me for the sins of my youth.
27 Thou also put my feet in the stocks, and mark all my paths. Thou set a bound to the soles of my feet.
Thou hast put my feet in the stocks, and hast observed all my paths, and hast considered the steps of my feet:
28 Though I am like a rotten thing that decays, like a garment that is moth-eaten.
Who am to be consumed as rottenness, and as a garment that is moth-eaten.
