Job 13

1 “Indeed, my eyes have seen all this; my ears have heard and understood.

Behold, mine eye has seen these things, and mine ear has heard [them].

2 What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you.

And I know all that ye too know; and I have not less understanding than you.

3 Yet I desire to speak to the Almighty and argue my case before God.

Nevertheless I will speak to the Lord, and I will reason before him, if he will.

4 You, however, smear with lies; you are all worthless physicians.

But ye are all bad physicians, and healers of diseases.

5 If only you would remain silent; for that would be your wisdom!

But would that ye were silent, and it would be wisdom to you in the end.

6 Hear now my argument, and listen to the plea of my lips.

But hear ye the reasoning of my mouth, and attend to the judgment of my lips.

7 Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf or speak deceitfully for Him?

Do ye not speak before the Lord, and utter deceit before him?

8 Would you show Him partiality or argue in His defense?

Or will ye draw back? nay do, ye yourselves be judges.

9 Would it be well when He examined you? Could you deceive Him like a man?

For [it were] well if he would thoroughly search you: for though doing all things [in your power] ye should attach yourselves to him,

10 Surely He would rebuke you if you secretly showed partiality.

he will not reprove you at all the less: but if moreover ye should secretly respect persons,

11 Would His majesty not terrify you? Would the dread of Him not fall upon you?

shall not his whirlpool sweep you round, and terror from him fall upon you?

12 Your maxims are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay.

And your glorying shall prove in the end to you like ashes, and your body [like a body] of clay.

13 Be silent, and I will speak. Then let come to me what may.

Be silent, that I may speak, and cease from [mine] anger,

14 Why do I put myself at risk and take my life in my own hands?

while I may 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.

Though the Mighty One should lay hand upon me, forasmuch as he has begun, verily I will speak, and plead before him.

16 Moreover, this will be my salvation, for no godless man can appear before Him.

And this shall turn to me for salvation; for fraud shall have no entrance before him.

17 Listen carefully to my words; let my declaration ring in your ears.

Hear, hear ye my words, for I will declare in your hearing.

18 Behold, now that I have prepared my case, I know that I will be vindicated.

Behold, I am near my judgment: I know that I shall appear evidently just.

19 Can anyone indict me? If so, I will be silent and die.

For who is he that shall plead with me, that I should now be silent, and expire?

20 Only grant these two things to me, so that I need not hide from You:

But grant me two things: then I will not hide myself from thy face.

21 Withdraw Your hand from me, and do not let Your terror frighten me.

Withhold [thine] hand from me: and let not thy fear terrify me.

22 Then call me, and I will answer, or let me speak, and You can reply.

Then shalt thou call, and I will hearken to thee: or thou shalt speak, and I will give thee an answer.

23 How many are my iniquities and sins? Reveal to me my transgression and sin.

How many are my sins and my transgressions? teach me what they are.

24 Why do You hide Your face and consider me as Your enemy?

Wherefore hidest thou thyself from me, and deemest me thine enemy?

25 Would You frighten a windblown leaf? Would You chase after dry chaff?

Wilt thou be startled [at me], as [at] a leaf shaken by the wind? or wilt thou set thyself against me as against grass borne upon the breeze?

26 For You record bitter accusations against me and bequeath to me the iniquities of my youth.

for thou hast written evil things against me, and thou hast compassed me with the sins 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.

And thou hast placed my foot in the stocks; and thou hast watched all my works, and hast penetrated my heels.

28 So man wastes away like something rotten, like a moth-eaten garment.

[I am as] that which waxes old like a bottle, or like a moth-eaten garment.