< Job 13 >

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

< Job 13 >