< Job 13 >

1 Truly, my eye has seen all this, word of it has come to my ear, and I have knowledge of it.
Lo, all [this] hath my eye seen, my ear hath heard and noted it for itself;
2 The same things are in my mind as in yours; I am equal to you.
As much as ye know, do I also know: I do not fall short compared with you.
3 But I would have talk with the Ruler of all, and my desire is to have an argument with God.
However, I would gladly speak to the Almighty; and to argue with God do I desire.
4 But you put a false face on things; all your attempts to put things right are of no value.
But ye are inventors of falsehood, physicians of no value are all of you.
5 If only you would keep quiet, it would be a sign of wisdom!
Oh, who would grant that ye might keep a profound silences! and it would he accounted unto you as wisdom.
6 Give ear to the argument of my mouth, and take note of the words of my lips.
Do hearken but to my reasoning, and listen to the pleadings of my lips.
7 Will you say in God's name what is not right, and put false words into his mouth?
Will ye speak wrong things for God? and will ye speak for him deceitfully?
8 Will you have respect for God's person in this cause, and put yourselves forward as his supporters?
Will ye show him undue favor, when ye contend for God?
9 Will it be good for you to be searched out by him, or have you the thought that he may be guided into error like a man?
Will it be well if he should search you out? or as one overreacheth another mortal, do ye expect to overreach him?
10 He will certainly put you right, if you have respect for persons in secret.
He will surely reprove you, if in secret you show him undue favor.
11 Will not his glory put you in fear, so that your hearts will be overcome before him?
Doth not his excellency terrify you? and his dread fall upon you?
12 Your wise sayings are only dust, and your strong places are only earth.
The things you remember are mere proverbs of ashes, your high-places are high-places of clay.
13 Keep quiet, and let me say what is in my mind, whatever may come to me.
Keep silence toward me, that I may indeed speak, and let pass over me what will.
14 I will take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand.
Whatever it may cost, I will take my flesh in my teeth, and my life will I put in my hand.
15 Truly, he will put an end to me; I have no hope; but I will not give way in argument before him;
Lo, though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: only I will argue my own ways before him.
16 And that will be my salvation, for an evil-doer would not come before him,
Even he will come to my assistance; for a hypocrite cannot come before him.
17 Give ear with care to my words, and keep what I say in your minds.
Listen well to my word, and to my demonstration with your ears.
18 See now, I have put my cause in order, and I am certain that I will be seen to be right.
Behold now, I have arrayed my cause: I know that I shall be indeed justified.
19 Is any one able to take up the argument against me? If so, I would keep quiet and give up my breath.
Who is he that will contend with me? for now, if I keep silence, I must perish.
20 Only two things do not do to me, then I will come before your face:
Only two things do not unto me: then will I not hide myself from thy presence.
21 Take your hand far away from me; and let me not be overcome by fear of you.
Remove thy hand far from me; and let not thy dread terrify me.
22 Then at the sound of your voice I will give answer; or let me put forward my cause for you to give me an answer.
Then call thou, and I will answer; or let me speak, and do thou reply to me.
23 What is the number of my evil-doings and my sins? give me knowledge of them.
How many are my iniquities and sins? my transgression and my sin let me know.
24 Why is your face veiled from me, as if I was numbered among your haters?
Wherefore wilt thou hide thy face, and regard me as an enemy unto thee?
25 Will you be hard on a leaf in flight before the wind? will you make a dry stem go more quickly on its way?
Wilt thou terrify a leaf driven about [by the wind]? and wilt thou pursue dry stubble?
26 For you put bitter things on record against me, and send punishment on me for the sins of my early years;
That thou writest bitter decrees against me, and assignest unto me the iniquities of my youth;
27 And you put chains on my feet, watching all my ways, and making a limit for my steps;
And [that] thou puttest my feet in the stocks, and watchest narrowly all my paths; [and] settest for thyself a mark upon the soles of my feet?
28 Though a man comes to nothing like a bit of dead wood, or like a robe which has become food for the worm.
And yet the body decayeth like a rotten thing, as a garment that the moth hath eaten.

< Job 13 >