Job 13
1 Behold, mine eye has seen these things, and mine ear has heard [them].
Lo, all [this] hath my eye seen, my ear hath heard and noted it for itself;
2 And I know all that you too know; and I have not less understanding than you.
As much as ye know, do I also know: I do not fall short compared with you.
3 Nevertheless I will speak to the Lord, and I will reason before him, if he will.
However, I would gladly speak to the Almighty; and to argue with God do I desire.
4 But you are all bad physicians, and healers of diseases.
But ye are inventors of falsehood, physicians of no value are all of you.
5 But would that you were silent, and it would be wisdom to you in the end.
Oh, who would grant that ye might keep a profound silences! and it would he accounted unto you as wisdom.
6 But hear you the reasoning of my mouth, and attend to the judgement of my lips.
Do hearken but to my reasoning, and listen to the pleadings of my lips.
7 Do you not speak before the Lord, and utter deceit before him?
Will ye speak wrong things for God? and will ye speak for him deceitfully?
8 Or will you draw back? nay do, you yourselves be judges.
Will ye show him undue favor, when ye contend for God?
9 For [it were] well if he would thoroughly search you: for though doing all things [in your power] you should attach yourselves to him,
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 not reprove you at all the less: but if moreover you should secretly respect persons,
He will surely reprove you, if in secret you show him undue favor.
11 shall not his whirlpool sweep you round, and terror from him fall upon you?
Doth 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.
The things you remember are mere proverbs of ashes, your high-places are high-places of clay.
13 Be silent, that I may speak, and cease from [mine] anger,
Keep silence toward me, that I may indeed speak, and let pass over me what will.
14 while I may 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 Though the Mighty One should lay hand upon me, forasmuch as he has begun, verily I will speak, and plead before him.
Lo, though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: only I will argue my own ways before him.
16 And this shall turn to me for salvation; for fraud shall have no entrance before him.
Even he will come to my assistance; for a hypocrite cannot come before him.
17 Hear, hear you my words, for I will declare in your hearing.
Listen well to my word, and to my demonstration with your ears.
18 Behold, I am near my judgement: I know that I shall appear evidently just.
Behold now, I have arrayed my cause: I know that I shall be indeed justified.
19 For who is he that shall plead with me, that I should now be silent, and expire?
Who is he that will contend with me? for now, if I keep silence, I must perish.
20 But grant me two things: then I will not hide myself from your face.
Only two things do not unto me: then will I not hide myself from thy presence.
21 Withhold [your] hand from me: and let not your fear terrify me.
Remove thy hand far from me; and let not thy dread terrify me.
22 Then shall you call, and I will listen to you: or you shall speak, and I will give you an answer.
Then call thou, and I will answer; or let me speak, and do thou reply to me.
23 How many are my sins and my transgressions? teach me what they are.
How many are my iniquities and sins? my transgression and my sin let me know.
24 Therefore hide you yourself from me, and deem me your enemy?
Wherefore wilt thou hide thy face, and regard me as an enemy unto thee?
25 Will you be startled [at me], as [at] a leaf shaken by the wind? or will you set yourself against me as against grass borne upon the breeze?
Wilt thou terrify a leaf driven about [by the wind]? and wilt thou pursue dry stubble?
26 for you have written evil things against me, and you have compassed me with the sins of my youth.
That thou writest bitter decrees against me, and assignest unto me the iniquities of my youth;
27 And you have placed my foot in the stocks; and you have watched all my works, and have penetrated my heels.
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 [I am as] that which waxes old like a bottle, or like a moth-eaten garment.
And yet the body decayeth like a rotten thing, as a garment that the moth hath eaten.
