Job 13
1 Lo, mine eye hath seen all [this], mine ear hath heard and understood it.
Behold my eye hath seen all these things, and my ear hath heard them, and I have understood them all.
2 What ye know, I know also: I am not inferior to you.
According to your knowledge I also know: neither am I inferior to you.
3 But I will speak to the Almighty, and will find pleasure in reasoning with God;
But yet I will speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.
4 For ye indeed are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.
Having first shewn that you are forgers of lies, and maintainers of perverse opinions.
5 Oh that ye would be altogether silent! and it would be your wisdom.
And I wish you would hold your peace, that you might be thought to be wise men.
6 Hear now my defence, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.
Hear ye therefore my reproof, and attend to the judgment of my lips.
7 Will ye speak unrighteously for God? and for him speak deceit?
Hath God any need of your lie, that you should speak deceitfully for him?
8 Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God?
Do you accept his person, and do you endeavour to judge for God?
9 Will it be well if he should search you out? or as one mocketh at a man, will ye mock at him?
Or shall it please him, from whom nothing can be concealed? or shall he be deceived as a man, with your deceitful dealings?
10 He will certainly reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.
He shall reprove you, because in secret you accept his person.
11 Shall not his excellency terrify you? and his dread fall upon you?
As soon as he shall move himself, he shall trouble you: and his dread shall fall upon you.
12 Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes, your bulwarks are bulwarks of mire.
Your remembrance shall be compared to ashes, and your necks shall be brought to clay.
13 Hold your peace from me, and I will speak, and let come on me what [will]!
Hold your peace a little while, that I may speak whatsoever my mind shall suggest to me.
14 Wherefore should I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand?
Why do I tear my flesh with my teeth, and carry my soul in my hands?
15 Behold, if he slay me, yet would I trust in him; but I will defend mine own ways before him.
Although he should bill me, I will trust in him: but yet I will reprove my ways in his sight.
16 This also shall be my salvation, that a profane man shall not come before his face.
And he shall be my saviour: for no hypocrite shall come before his presence.
17 Hear attentively my speech and my declaration with your ears.
Hear ye my speech, and receive with Sour ears hidden truths.
18 Behold now, I have ordered the cause; I know that I shall be justified.
If I shall be judged, I know that I shall be found just.
19 Who is he that contendeth with me? For if I were silent now, I should expire.
Who is he that will plead against me? let him come: why am I consumed holding my peace?
20 Only do not two things unto me; then will I not hide myself from thee.
Two things only do not to me, and then from thy face I shall not be hid:
21 Withdraw thy hand far from me; and let not thy terror make me afraid:
Withdraw thy hand far from me, and let not thy dread terrify me.
22 Then call, and I will answer; or I will speak, and answer thou me.
Call me, and I will answer thee: or else I will speak, and do thou answer me.
23 How many are mine iniquities and sins? Make me to know my transgression and my sin.
How many are my iniquities and sins? make me know my crimes and offences.
24 Wherefore dost thou hide thy face, and countest me for thine enemy?
Why hidest thou thy face, and thinkest me thy enemy?
25 Wilt thou terrify a driven leaf? and wilt thou pursue dry stubble?
Against a leaf, that is carried away with the wind, thou shewest thy power, and thou pursuest a dry straw.
26 For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth;
For thou writest bitter things against me, and wilt consume me for the sins of my youth.
27 And thou puttest my feet in the stocks, and markest all my paths; thou settest a bound about the soles of my feet; —
Thou hast put my feet in the stocks, and hast observed all my paths, and hast considered the steps of my feet:
28 One who, as a rotten thing consumeth, as a garment that the moth eateth.
Who am to be consumed as rottenness, and as a garment that is moth-eaten.
