Job 13
1 Behold, mine eye has seen these things, and mine ear has heard [them].
Lo! all [this], hath mine own eye seen, —Mine ear hath heard and understood it:
2 And I know all that you too know; and I have not less understanding than you.
Just as ye know, I too, know, I, fall not short, of you.
3 Nevertheless I will speak to the Lord, and I will reason before him, if he will.
But indeed, I, unto the Almighty, would speak, and, to direct my argument unto GOD, would I be well pleased.
4 But you are all bad physicians, and healers of diseases.
For, in truth, ye, do besmear with falsehood, Worthless physicians, all of you!
5 But would that you were silent, and it would be wisdom to you in the end.
Oh that ye would, altogether hold your peace, and it should serve you for wisdom!
6 But hear you the reasoning of my mouth, and attend to the judgement of my lips.
Hear, I pray you, the argument of my mouth, and, to the pleadings of my lips, give heed: —
7 Do you not speak before the Lord, and utter deceit before him?
Is it, for God, ye would speak perversely? And, for him, would ye speak deceit:
8 Or will you draw back? nay do, you yourselves be judges.
Even, for him, would ye be partial? Or, for GOD, would ye [so] plead?
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,
Would it be well, when he searched you out? Or, as one might jest with a mortal, would ye jest, with him?
10 he will not reprove you at all the less: but if moreover you should secretly respect persons,
He will, severely rebuke, you, if ye are secretly partial.
11 shall not his whirlpool sweep you round, and terror from him fall upon you?
Shall not, his majesty, overwhelm you? and, the dread of him, fall upon you?
12 And your glorying shall prove in the end to you like ashes, and your body [like a body] of clay.
Are not your memorable sayings, proverbs of ashes? Breastworks of clay, your breastworks?
13 Be silent, that I may speak, and cease from [mine] anger,
Quietly let me alone, that, I, may speak out, then let come on me, what may.
14 while I may take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand.
In any case, I will take up 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! he may slay me, [yet], for him, will I wait, —Nevertheless, my ways—unto his face, will I show to be right:
16 And this shall turn to me for salvation; for fraud shall have no entrance before him.
Even he, will be on my side—unto salvation, For, not before his face, shall any impious person come.
17 Hear, hear you my words, for I will declare in your hearing.
Hear ye patiently my speech, and be my declaration in your ears.
18 Behold, I am near my judgement: I know that I shall appear evidently just.
Lo! I pray you, I have set forth in order a plea, I know that, I, shall be found right.
19 For who is he that shall plead with me, that I should now be silent, and expire?
Who is it that shall contend with me? For, now, if I should hold my peace, why! I should breathe my last!
20 But grant me two things: then I will not hide myself from your face.
Only, two things, do thou not with me, then, from thy face, will I not hide me: —
21 Withhold [your] hand from me: and let not your fear terrify me.
Thy hand—from off me, take thou far away, and, thy terror, let it not startle 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 I will speak, and reply thou unto me.
23 How many are my sins and my transgressions? teach me what they are.
How many are mine iniquities and sins? My transgression and my sin, let me know!
24 Therefore hide you yourself from me, and deem me your enemy?
Wherefore, thy face, shouldst thou hide? Or count me, as an enemy to 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?
A driven leaf, wilt thou cause to tremble? Or, dry stubble, wilt thou pursue?
26 for you have written evil things against me, and you have compassed me with the sins of my youth.
For thou writest, against me, bitter things, and dost make me inherit 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 thou dost put—in the stocks—my feet, and observest all my paths, Against the roots of my feet, thou dost cut out a bound;
28 [I am as] that which waxes old like a bottle, or like a moth-eaten garment.
And, a man himself, as a rotten thing, weareth out, as a garment which the moth hath eaten.
