Job 13
1 Behold my eye hath seen all these things, and my ear hath heard them, and I have understood them all.
Lo! all [this], hath mine own eye seen, —Mine ear hath heard and understood it:
2 According to your knowledge I also know: neither am I inferior to you.
Just as ye know, I too, know, I, fall not short, of you.
3 But yet I will speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.
But indeed, I, unto the Almighty, would speak, and, to direct my argument unto GOD, would I be well pleased.
4 Having first shewn that you are forgers of lies, and maintainers of perverse opinions.
For, in truth, ye, do besmear with falsehood, Worthless physicians, all of you!
5 And I wish you would hold your peace, that you might be thought to be wise men.
Oh that ye would, altogether hold your peace, and it should serve you for wisdom!
6 Hear ye therefore my reproof, and attend to the judgment of my lips.
Hear, I pray you, the argument of my mouth, and, to the pleadings of my lips, give heed: —
7 Hath God any need of your lie, that you should speak deceitfully for him?
Is it, for God, ye would speak perversely? And, for him, would ye speak deceit:
8 Do you accept his person, and do you endeavour to judge for God?
Even, for him, would ye be partial? Or, for GOD, would ye [so] plead?
9 Or shall it please him, from whom nothing can be concealed? or shall he be deceived as a man, with your deceitful dealings?
Would it be well, when he searched you out? Or, as one might jest with a mortal, would ye jest, with him?
10 He shall reprove you, because in secret you accept his person.
He will, severely rebuke, you, if ye are secretly partial.
11 As soon as he shall move himself, he shall trouble you: and his dread shall fall upon you.
Shall not, his majesty, overwhelm you? and, the dread of him, fall upon you?
12 Your remembrance shall be compared to ashes, and your necks shall be brought to clay.
Are not your memorable sayings, proverbs of ashes? Breastworks of clay, your breastworks?
13 Hold your peace a little while, that I may speak whatsoever my mind shall suggest to me.
Quietly let me alone, that, I, may speak out, then let come on me, what may.
14 Why do I tear my flesh with my teeth, and carry my soul in my hands?
In any case, I will take up my flesh in my teeth, and, my life, will I put in my hand:
15 Although he should bill me, I will trust in him: but yet I will reprove my ways in his sight.
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 he shall be my saviour: for no hypocrite shall come before his presence.
Even he, will be on my side—unto salvation, For, not before his face, shall any impious person come.
17 Hear ye my speech, and receive with Sour ears hidden truths.
Hear ye patiently my speech, and be my declaration in your ears.
18 If I shall be judged, I know that I shall be found just.
Lo! I pray you, I have set forth in order a plea, I know that, I, shall be found right.
19 Who is he that will plead against me? let him come: why am I consumed holding my peace?
Who is it that shall contend with me? For, now, if I should hold my peace, why! I should breathe my last!
20 Two things only do not to me, and then from thy face I shall not be hid:
Only, two things, do thou not with me, then, from thy face, will I not hide me: —
21 Withdraw thy hand far from me, and let not thy dread terrify me.
Thy hand—from off me, take thou far away, and, thy terror, let it not startle me!
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 I will speak, and reply thou unto me.
23 How many are my iniquities and sins? make me know my crimes and offences.
How many are mine iniquities and sins? My transgression and my sin, let me know!
24 Why hidest thou thy face, and thinkest me thy enemy?
Wherefore, thy face, shouldst thou hide? Or count me, as an enemy to thee?
25 Against a leaf, that is carried away with the wind, thou shewest thy power, and thou pursuest a dry straw.
A driven leaf, wilt thou cause to tremble? Or, dry stubble, wilt thou pursue?
26 For thou writest bitter things against me, and wilt consume me for the sins of my youth.
For thou writest, against me, bitter things, and dost make me inherit 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:
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 Who am to be consumed as rottenness, and as a garment that is moth-eaten.
And, a man himself, as a rotten thing, weareth out, as a garment which the moth hath eaten.
