Job 13
1 “Indeed, my eyes have seen all this; my ears have heard and understood.
Lo, my eye has seen all this. My ear has heard and understood it.
2 What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you.
What ye know, I also know; I am not inferior to you.
3 Yet I desire to speak to the Almighty and argue my case before God.
Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.
4 You, however, smear with lies; you are all worthless physicians.
But ye are forgers of lies. Ye are all physicians of no value.
5 If only you would remain silent; for that would be your wisdom!
O that ye would altogether be silent! And it would be your wisdom.
6 Hear now my argument, and listen to the plea of my lips.
Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.
7 Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf or speak deceitfully for Him?
Will ye speak unrighteously for God, and talk deceitfully for him?
8 Would you show Him partiality or argue in His defense?
Will ye show partiality to him? Will ye contend for God?
9 Would it be well when He examined you? Could you deceive Him like a man?
Is it good that he should search you out? Or as deceiving a man, will ye deceive him?
10 Surely He would rebuke you if you secretly showed partiality.
He will surely reprove you if ye secretly show partiality.
11 Would His majesty not terrify you? Would the dread of Him not fall upon you?
Shall not his majesty make you afraid, and his dread fall upon you?
12 Your maxims are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay.
Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes. Your defenses are defenses of clay.
13 Be silent, and I will speak. Then let come to me what may.
Be quiet. Let me alone that I may speak, and let come on me what will.
14 Why do I put myself at risk and take my life in my own hands?
Why should I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand?
15 Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. I will still defend my ways to His face.
Behold, he will kill me; I have no hope. Nevertheless I will maintain my ways before him.
16 Moreover, this will be my salvation, for no godless man can appear before Him.
This also shall be my salvation, that a profane man shall not come before him.
17 Listen carefully to my words; let my declaration ring in your ears.
Hear diligently my speech, and let my declaration be in your ears.
18 Behold, now that I have prepared my case, I know that I will be vindicated.
Behold now, I have set my case in order. I know that I am righteous.
19 Can anyone indict me? If so, I will be silent and die.
Who is he who will contend with me? For then I would keep silent and give up the spirit.
20 Only grant these two things to me, so that I need not hide from You:
Only do not do two things to me, then I will not hide myself from thy face:
21 Withdraw Your hand from me, and do not let Your terror frighten me.
Withdraw thy hand far from me, and do not let thy dread make me afraid.
22 Then call me, and I will answer, or let me speak, and You can reply.
Then call thou, and I will answer, or let me speak, and answer thou me.
23 How many are my iniquities and sins? Reveal to me my transgression and sin.
How many are my iniquities and sins? Make me to know my transgression and my sin.
24 Why do You hide Your face and consider me as Your enemy?
Why do thou hide thy face, and reckon me for thine enemy?
25 Would You frighten a windblown leaf? Would You chase after dry chaff?
Will thou harass a driven leaf? And will thou pursue the dry stubble?
26 For You record bitter accusations against me and bequeath to me the iniquities of my youth.
For thou write bitter things against me, and make me to inherit the iniquities of my youth.
27 You put my feet in the stocks and stand watch over all my paths; You set a limit for the soles of my feet.
Thou also put my feet in the stocks, and mark all my paths. Thou set a bound to the soles of my feet.
28 So man wastes away like something rotten, like a moth-eaten garment.
Though I am like a rotten thing that decays, like a garment that is moth-eaten.
