Job 13
1 “Indeed, my eyes have seen all this; my ears have heard and understood.
Lo! all this mine eye hath seen; 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 O that I might speak with the Almighty! O that I might reason with God!
4 You, however, smear with lies; you are all worthless physicians.
For ye are forgers of lies; Physicians of no value, all of you!
5 If only you would remain silent; for that would be your wisdom!
O that ye would altogether hold your peace! This, truly, would be wisdom in you.
6 Hear now my argument, and listen to the plea of my lips.
Hear, I pray you, my arguments; Attend to the pleadings of my lips!
7 Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf or speak deceitfully for Him?
Will ye speak falsehood for God? Will ye utter deceit for him?
8 Would you show Him partiality or argue in His defense?
Will ye be partial to his person? Will ye contend earnestly for God?
9 Would it be well when He examined you? Could you deceive Him like a man?
Will it be well for you, if he search you thoroughly? Can ye deceive him, as one may deceive a man?
10 Surely He would rebuke you if you secretly showed partiality.
Surely he will rebuke you, If ye secretly have respect to persons.
11 Would His majesty not terrify you? Would the dread of Him not fall upon you?
Doth 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 maxims are words of dust; Your fortresses are fortresses of clay.
13 Be silent, and I will speak. Then let come to me what may.
Hold your peace, and let me speak: And then come upon 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.
Lo! he slayeth me, and I have no hope! Yet will I justify my ways before him.
16 Moreover, this will be my salvation, for no godless man can appear before Him.
This also shall be my deliverance; For no unrighteous man will come before him.
17 Listen carefully to my words; let my declaration ring in your ears.
Hear attentively my words, And give ear to my declaration!
18 Behold, now that I have prepared my case, I know that I will be vindicated.
Behold, I have now set in order my cause; I know that I am innocent.
19 Can anyone indict me? If so, I will be silent and die.
Who is he that can contend with me? For then would I hold my peace, and die!
20 Only grant these two things to me, so that I need not hide from You:
Only do not unto me two things, Then will I not hide myself from thy presence;
21 Withdraw Your hand from me, and do not let Your terror frighten me.
Let not thy hand be heavy upon me, And let not thy terrors make me afraid:
22 Then call me, and I will answer, or let me speak, and You can reply.
Then call upon me, 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 my iniquities and sins? Make me to know my faults and transgressions.
24 Why do You hide Your face and consider me as Your enemy?
Wherefore dost thou hide thy face, And account me as thine enemy?
25 Would You frighten a windblown leaf? Would You chase after dry chaff?
Wilt thou put in fear the driven leaf? Wilt thou pursue the 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 inherit 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.
Yea, thou puttest my feet in the stocks, And waterest all my paths; Thou hemmest in the soles of my feet.
28 So man wastes away like something rotten, like a moth-eaten garment.
And I, like an abandoned thing, shall waste away; Like a garment which is moth-eaten.
