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, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you.

3 Nevertheless I will speak to the Lord, and I will reason before him, if he will.

Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.

4 But ye are all bad physicians, and healers of diseases.

But ye 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.

O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.

6 But hear ye the reasoning of my mouth, and attend to the judgment of my lips.

Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.

7 Do ye not speak before the Lord, and utter deceit before him?

Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?

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,

Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him?

10 he will not reprove you at all the less: but if moreover ye should secretly respect persons,

He will surely 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 make you afraid? 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 remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.

13 Be silent, that I may speak, and cease from [mine] anger,

Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may 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 do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?

15 Though the Mighty One should lay hand upon me, forasmuch as he has begun, verily I will speak, and plead before him.

Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

16 And this shall turn to me for salvation; for fraud shall have no entrance before him.

He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.

17 Hear, hear ye my words, for I will declare in your hearing.

Hear diligently 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 my 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 will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.

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 thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread 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 thou, and I will answer: or let me 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 hidest thou thy face, and holdest 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 break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the 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.

Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet.

28 [I am as] that which waxes old like a bottle, or like a moth-eaten garment.

And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth eaten.