Job 13
1 “Indeed, my eyes have seen all this; my ears have heard and understood.
See, 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 you know, the same do I know also: 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 you are forgers of lies, you are all physicians of no value.
5 If only you would remain silent; for that would be your wisdom!
O that you would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.
6 Hear now my argument, and listen to the plea of my lips.
Hear now my reasoning, and listen to the pleadings of my lips.
7 Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf or speak deceitfully for Him?
Will you speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?
8 Would you show Him partiality or argue in His defense?
Will you accept his person? will you 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 one man mocks another, do you so mock him?
10 Surely He would rebuke you if you secretly showed partiality.
He will surely reprove you, if you do secretly accept persons.
11 Would His majesty not terrify you? Would the dread of Him not fall upon you?
Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall on you?
12 Your maxims are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay.
Your remembrances are like to ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.
13 Be silent, and I will speak. Then let come to me what may.
Hold your peace, 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 do 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.
Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain my own ways before him.
16 Moreover, this will be my salvation, for no godless man can appear before Him.
He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.
17 Listen carefully to my words; let my declaration ring in your ears.
Hear diligently 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 my 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 will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.
20 Only grant these two things to me, so that I need not hide from You:
Only do not two things to me: then will I not hide myself from you.
21 Withdraw Your hand from me, and do not let Your terror frighten me.
Withdraw your hand far from me: and let not your dread make me afraid.
22 Then call me, and I will answer, or let me speak, and You can reply.
Then call you, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer you 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 hide you your face, and hold me for your enemy?
25 Would You frighten a windblown leaf? Would You chase after dry chaff?
Will you break a leaf driven to and fro? and will you pursue the dry stubble?
26 For You record bitter accusations against me and bequeath to me the iniquities of my youth.
For you write bitter things against me, and make 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.
You put my feet also in the stocks, and look narrowly to all my paths; you set a print on the heels of my feet.
28 So man wastes away like something rotten, like a moth-eaten garment.
And he, as a rotten thing, consumes, as a garment that is moth eaten.
