Job 13
1 Behold, mine eye has seen these things, and mine ear has heard [them].
Lo, mine eye hath seen all [this], mine ear hath heard and understood it.
2 And I know all that ye too know; and I have not less understanding than you.
What ye know, I know also: I am not inferior to you.
3 Nevertheless I will speak to the Lord, and I will reason before him, if he will.
But I will speak to the Almighty, and will find pleasure in reasoning with God;
4 But ye are all bad physicians, and healers of diseases.
For ye indeed are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.
5 But would that ye were silent, and it would be wisdom to you in the end.
Oh that ye would be altogether silent! and it would be your wisdom.
6 But hear ye the reasoning of my mouth, and attend to the judgment of my lips.
Hear now my defence, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.
7 Do ye not speak before the Lord, and utter deceit before him?
Will ye speak unrighteously for God? and for him speak deceit?
8 Or will ye draw back? nay do, ye yourselves be judges.
Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God?
9 For [it were] well if he would thoroughly search you: for though doing all things [in your power] ye should attach yourselves to him,
Will it be well if he should search you out? or as one mocketh at a man, will ye mock at him?
10 he will not reprove you at all the less: but if moreover ye should secretly respect persons,
He will certainly reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.
11 shall not his whirlpool sweep you round, and terror from him fall upon you?
Shall not his excellency terrify you? and his dread fall upon you?
12 And your glorying shall prove in the end to you like ashes, and your body [like a body] of clay.
Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes, your bulwarks are bulwarks of mire.
13 Be silent, that I may speak, and cease from [mine] anger,
Hold your peace from me, and I will speak, and let come on me what [will]!
14 while I may take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand.
Wherefore should I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand?
15 Though the Mighty One should lay hand upon me, forasmuch as he has begun, verily I will speak, and plead before him.
Behold, if he slay me, yet would I trust in him; but I will defend mine own ways before him.
16 And this shall turn to me for salvation; for fraud shall have no entrance before him.
This also shall be my salvation, that a profane man shall not come before his face.
17 Hear, hear ye my words, for I will declare in your hearing.
Hear attentively my speech and my declaration with your ears.
18 Behold, I am near my judgment: I know that I shall appear evidently just.
Behold now, I have ordered the cause; I know that I shall be justified.
19 For who is he that shall plead with me, that I should now be silent, and expire?
Who is he that contendeth with me? For if I were silent now, I should expire.
20 But grant me two things: then I will not hide myself from thy face.
Only do not two things unto me; then will I not hide myself from thee.
21 Withhold [thine] hand from me: and let not thy fear terrify me.
Withdraw thy hand far from me; and let not thy terror make me afraid:
22 Then shalt thou call, and I will hearken to thee: or thou shalt speak, and I will give thee an answer.
Then call, and I will answer; or I will speak, and answer thou me.
23 How many are my sins and my transgressions? teach me what they are.
How many are mine iniquities and sins? Make me to know my transgression and my sin.
24 Wherefore hidest thou thyself from me, and deemest me thine enemy?
Wherefore dost thou hide thy face, and countest me for thine enemy?
25 Wilt thou be startled [at me], as [at] a leaf shaken by the wind? or wilt thou set thyself against me as against grass borne upon the breeze?
Wilt thou terrify a driven leaf? and wilt thou pursue dry stubble?
26 for thou hast written evil things against me, and thou hast compassed me with the sins of my youth.
For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth;
27 And thou hast placed my foot in the stocks; and thou hast watched all my works, and hast penetrated my heels.
And thou puttest my feet in the stocks, and markest all my paths; thou settest a bound about the soles of my feet; —
28 [I am as] that which waxes old like a bottle, or like a moth-eaten garment.
One who, as a rotten thing consumeth, as a garment that the moth eateth.
