Job 13

1 Lo, mine eye hath seen all [this], mine ear hath heard and understood it.

Behold, mine eye has seen these things, and mine ear has heard [them].

2 What ye know, I know also: I am not inferior to you.

And I know all that you too know; and I have not less understanding than you.

3 But I will speak to the Almighty, and will find pleasure in reasoning with God;

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

4 For ye indeed are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.

But you are all bad physicians, and healers of diseases.

5 Oh that ye would be altogether silent! and it would be your wisdom.

But would that you were silent, and it would be wisdom to you in the end.

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

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

7 Will ye speak unrighteously for God? and for him speak deceit?

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

8 Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God?

Or will you draw back? nay do, you yourselves be judges.

9 Will it be well if he should search you out? or as one mocketh at a man, will ye mock at him?

For [it were] well if he would thoroughly search you: for though doing all things [in your power] you should attach yourselves to him,

10 He will certainly reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.

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

11 Shall not his excellency terrify you? and his dread fall upon you?

shall not his whirlpool sweep you round, and terror from him fall upon you?

12 Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes, your bulwarks are bulwarks of mire.

And your glorying shall prove in the end to you like ashes, and your body [like a body] of clay.

13 Hold your peace from me, and I will speak, and let come on me what [will]!

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

14 Wherefore should I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand?

while I may take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand.

15 Behold, if he slay me, yet would I trust in him; but I will defend mine own ways before him.

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

16 This also shall be my salvation, that a profane man shall not come before his face.

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

17 Hear attentively my speech and my declaration with your ears.

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

18 Behold now, I have ordered the cause; I know that I shall be justified.

Behold, I am near my judgment: I know that I shall appear evidently just.

19 Who is he that contendeth with me? For if I were silent now, I should expire.

For who is he that shall plead with me, that I should now be silent, and expire?

20 Only do not two things unto me; then will I not hide myself from thee.

But grant me two things: then I will not hide myself from your face.

21 Withdraw thy hand far from me; and let not thy terror make me afraid:

Withhold [your] hand from me: and let not your fear terrify me.

22 Then call, and I will answer; or I will speak, and answer thou me.

Then shall you call, and I will listen to you: or you shall speak, and I will give you an answer.

23 How many are mine iniquities and sins? Make me to know my transgression and my sin.

How many are my sins and my transgressions? teach me what they are.

24 Wherefore dost thou hide thy face, and countest me for thine enemy?

Therefore hide you yourself from me, and deem me your enemy?

25 Wilt thou terrify a driven leaf? and wilt thou pursue dry stubble?

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?

26 For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth;

for you have written evil things against me, and you have compassed me with 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; —

And you have placed my foot in the stocks; and you have watched all my works, and have penetrated my heels.

28 One who, as a rotten thing consumeth, as a garment that the moth eateth.

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