Job 13
1 Truly, my eye has seen all this, word of it has come to my ear, and I have knowledge of it.
“Hey, I [SYN] have seen everything [that you have seen], and I have heard and understood all [that you have said].
2 The same things are in my mind as in yours; I am equal to you.
What you know, I also know; I do (not know less than/know as much as) you.
3 But I would have talk with the Ruler of all, and my desire is to have an argument with God.
But I would like to speak to Almighty God, [not to you]; I would like to argue with him [and prove that I (am innocent/have not done things that are wrong]).
4 But you put a false face on things; all your attempts to put things right are of no value.
As for you, you do not allow people to know the truth about me, like someone covers [up a bad surface of a wall] with whitewash [MET]. You are all like doctors [MET] [that give people] useless [medicines].
5 If only you would keep quiet, it would be a sign of wisdom!
I wish/desire that you would be silent; that would be the wisest thing that you [could do].
6 Give ear to the argument of my mouth, and take note of the words of my lips.
Listen to what I will say to you now; listen while I am saying [what is true about myself].
7 Will you say in God's name what is not right, and put false words into his mouth?
Are you telling lies about me to prove God [is just in causing me to suffer]? Are you saying what is deceitful in order to benefit him?
8 Will you have respect for God's person in this cause, and put yourselves forward as his supporters?
Are you trying to defend him? Are you trying to prove [as you would] in a court that he is innocent?
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?
If he looks closely, will he find that everything that you have done is good? Or can you deceive him, like you deceive other people?
10 He will certainly put you right, if you have respect for persons in secret.
If you secretly say/do things to cause God to act favorably toward you, he will surely rebuke you.
11 Will not his glory put you in fear, so that your hearts will be overcome before him?
He will certainly [RHQ] cause you to be terrified by his power/greatness; you will become extremely afraid.
12 Your wise sayings are only dust, and your strong places are only earth.
The things that you say [that you think are] wise are [as useless as] [MET] as ashes; what you say to defend your opinions is no better than [MET] clay [that quickly crumbles].
13 Keep quiet, and let me say what is in my mind, whatever may come to me.
“So, be quiet and allow me to speak, and then it will not matter what happens to me.
14 I will take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand.
I am ready to endure anything; I am [even] willing to risk being executed [IDM, DOU] [for what I will say].
15 Truly, he will put an end to me; I have no hope; but I will not give way in argument before him;
If God kills me, then I will not have anyone else whom I can confidently expect to help me, but I am going to defend my behavior in his presence [anyway].
16 And that will be my salvation, for an evil-doer would not come before him,
No wicked/godless person would dare to stand in the presence of God, [but because I say that I have not done things that are wrong], perhaps, if I can prove that to God, he will save me.”
17 Give ear with care to my words, and keep what I say in your minds.
“God, listen very carefully to what I say [DOU].
18 See now, I have put my cause in order, and I am certain that I will be seen to be right.
I am ready to prove that I am innocent, and I know that you also will declare that I am not guilty.
19 Is any one able to take up the argument against me? If so, I would keep quiet and give up my breath.
I certainly do not think [RHQ] that [you or anyone else] will say that what I say is not true; if anyone did that, I would (be silent/stop talking) and die.
20 Only two things do not do to me, then I will come before your face:
“I am requesting you to do two things for me; if you do them, I will (not hide from you/come and stand in front of you) [LIT].
21 Take your hand far away from me; and let me not be overcome by fear of you.
[The first thing that I request is that you] stop punishing [IDM] me; and [the second thing that I request is that you] stop causing me to be very terrified.
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.
You speak [first], and then I will reply; or allow me to speak first, and [then] you reply.
23 What is the number of my evil-doings and my sins? give me knowledge of them.
What have I done that is wrong? What sins have I committed? Show me how I have disobeyed you.
24 Why is your face veiled from me, as if I was numbered among your haters?
Why (do you refuse to be friendly with/have you abandoned) me [IDM]? Why do you (act toward me as though I am/consider me to be) your 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?
I am [as insignificant as] [MET] a leaf that is blown by the wind; why are you trying to cause me to be afraid [RHQ]? Why are you pursuing me? Am I [useless, nothing more than a bit of] dry chaff [RHQ]?
26 For you put bitter things on record against me, and send punishment on me for the sins of my early years;
[It seems that] you are writing things to accuse me [of doing things that are wrong], even recalling bad things that I did when I was young.
27 And you put chains on my feet, watching all my ways, and making a limit for my steps;
[It is as though] you have fastened my feet with chains [to prevent me from walking], and you watch me wherever I walk; [It is as though] you even look closely at my footprints [to see where I have gone].
28 Though a man comes to nothing like a bit of dead wood, or like a robe which has become food for the worm.
[As a result], my body is decaying like [SIM] rotten wood, like a piece of cloth that is eaten by [larvae of] moths.”
