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 mine eye hath seen; Mine ear hath heard and understood it.
2 The same things are in my mind as in yours; I am equal to you.
What ye know, I know also; I am not inferior to you.
3 But I would have talk with the Ruler of all, and my desire is to have an argument with God.
But O that I might speak with the Almighty! O that I might reason with God!
4 But you put a false face on things; all your attempts to put things right are of no value.
For ye are forgers of lies; Physicians of no value, all of you!
5 If only you would keep quiet, it would be a sign of wisdom!
O that ye would altogether hold your peace! This, truly, would be wisdom in you.
6 Give ear to the argument of my mouth, and take note of the words of my lips.
Hear, I pray you, my arguments; Attend 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 falsehood for God? Will ye utter deceit for him?
8 Will you have respect for God's person in this cause, and put yourselves forward as his supporters?
Will ye be partial to his person? Will ye contend earnestly 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 for you, if he search you thoroughly? Can ye deceive him, as one may deceive a man?
10 He will certainly put you right, if you have respect for persons in secret.
Surely he will rebuke you, If ye secretly have respect to persons.
11 Will not his glory put you in fear, so that your hearts will be overcome before him?
Doth not his majesty make you afraid, And his dread fall upon you?
12 Your wise sayings are only dust, and your strong places are only earth.
Your maxims are words of dust; Your fortresses are fortresses of clay.
13 Keep quiet, and let me say what is in my mind, whatever may come to me.
Hold your peace, and let me speak: And then come upon me what will!
14 I will take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand.
Why do I take my flesh in my teeth, And put my life 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! he slayeth me, and I have no hope! Yet will I justify my ways before him.
16 And that will be my salvation, for an evil-doer would not come before him,
This also shall be my deliverance; For no unrighteous man will come before him.
17 Give ear with care to my words, and keep what I say in your minds.
Hear attentively my words, And give ear to my declaration!
18 See now, I have put my cause in order, and I am certain that I will be seen to be right.
Behold, I have now set in order my cause; I know that I am innocent.
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 can contend with me? For then would I hold my peace, and die!
20 Only two things do not do to me, then I will come before your face:
Only do not unto me two things, 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.
Let not thy hand be heavy upon me, And let not thy terrors make me afraid:
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 upon me, and I will answer; Or I will speak, and answer thou 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? Make me to know my faults and transgressions.
24 Why is your face veiled from me, as if I was numbered among your haters?
Wherefore dost thou hide thy face, And account me as thine enemy?
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 put in fear the driven leaf? Wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?
26 For you put bitter things on record against me, and send punishment on me for the sins of my early years;
For thou writest bitter things against me, And makest me inherit the sins of my youth.
27 And you put chains on my feet, watching all my ways, and making a limit for my steps;
Yea, thou puttest my feet in the stocks, And waterest all my paths; Thou hemmest in 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 I, like an abandoned thing, shall waste away; Like a garment which is moth-eaten.
