< Job 13 >
1 “Indeed, my eyes have seen all this; my ears have heard and understood.
Lo, mine eye hath seen all [this], mine ear hath heard and understood it.
2 What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you.
What ye know, I know also: I am not inferior to you.
3 Yet I desire to speak to the Almighty and argue my case before God.
But I will speak to the Almighty, and will find pleasure in reasoning with God;
4 You, however, smear with lies; you are all worthless physicians.
For ye indeed are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.
5 If only you would remain silent; for that would be your wisdom!
Oh that ye would be altogether silent! and it would be your wisdom.
6 Hear now my argument, and listen to the plea of my lips.
Hear now my defence, 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 for him speak deceit?
8 Would you show Him partiality or argue in His defense?
Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God?
9 Would it be well when He examined you? Could you deceive Him like a man?
Will it be well if he should search you out? or as one mocketh at a man, will ye mock at him?
10 Surely He would rebuke you if you secretly showed partiality.
He will certainly reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.
11 Would His majesty not terrify you? Would the dread of Him not fall upon you?
Shall not his excellency terrify you? 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 bulwarks are bulwarks of mire.
13 Be silent, and I will speak. Then let come to me what may.
Hold your peace from me, and I will speak, and let come on me what [will]!
14 Why do I put myself at risk and take my life in my own hands?
Wherefore 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, if he slay me, yet would I trust in him; but I will defend mine own 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 his face.
17 Listen carefully to my words; let my declaration ring in your ears.
Hear attentively my speech and my declaration with your ears.
18 Behold, now that I have prepared my case, I know that I will be vindicated.
Behold now, I have ordered the cause; I know that I shall be justified.
19 Can anyone indict me? If so, I will be silent and die.
Who is he that contendeth with me? For if I were silent now, I should expire.
20 Only grant these two things to me, so that I need not hide from You:
Only do not two things unto me; then will I not hide myself from thee.
21 Withdraw Your hand from me, and do not let Your terror frighten me.
Withdraw thy hand far from me; and let not thy terror make me afraid:
22 Then call me, and I will answer, or let me speak, and You can reply.
Then call, and I will answer; or I will speak, and answer thou me.
23 How many are my iniquities and sins? Reveal to me my transgression and sin.
How many are mine 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?
Wherefore dost thou hide thy face, and countest me for thine enemy?
25 Would You frighten a windblown leaf? Would You chase after dry chaff?
Wilt thou terrify a driven leaf? and wilt thou pursue dry stubble?
26 For You record bitter accusations against me and bequeath to me the iniquities of my youth.
For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess 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.
And thou puttest my feet in the stocks, and markest all my paths; thou settest a bound about the soles of my feet; —
28 So man wastes away like something rotten, like a moth-eaten garment.
One who, as a rotten thing consumeth, as a garment that the moth eateth.