Job 13
1 Look, I've seen all this with my own eyes, and heard it with my own ears, and I understand it.
“Behold, my eye has seen all this. My ear has heard and understood it.
2 I know what you know. You're no better than me.
What you know, I know also. I am not inferior to you.
3 But I would still like to speak to the Almighty: I want to prove myself to God!
“Surely I would speak to the Almighty. I desire to reason with God.
4 As for you, you cover things up by telling lies! You are all like doctors who can't heal anyone!
But you are forgers of lies. You are all physicians of no value.
5 I wish you would all be quiet! That would be the wisest thing for you to do.
Oh that you would be completely silent! Then you would be wise.
6 Listen to my argument and pay attention to what I have to say.
Hear now my reasoning. Listen to the pleadings of my lips.
7 Do you think you can tell lies to defend God? Are you talking deceitfully on his behalf?
Will you speak unrighteously for God, and talk deceitfully for him?
8 Or are you wanting to show God favoritism? Are you going to argue God's case for him?
Will you show partiality to him? Will you contend for God?
9 Will you be found to be doing good when God examines you? Can you fool him as if he's a human being?
Is it good that he should search you out? Or as one deceives a man, will you deceive him?
10 No, he will definitely rebuke you if you secretly show him favoritism!
He will surely reprove you if you secretly show partiality.
11 Isn't his majesty terrifying to you? Aren't you so afraid of him you're paralyzed?
Will not his majesty make you afraid and his dread fall on you?
12 Your sayings are as helpful as ashes; your arguments as weak as clay.
Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes. Your defenses are defenses of clay.
13 Be quiet. Don't talk to me. Let me speak, come what may.
“Be silent! Leave me alone, that I may speak. Let come on me what will.
14 I take responsibility for myself; I am ready to risk my life.
Why should I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand?
15 Even though he kills me, I will hope in him. I am still going to defend my ways before him.
Behold, he will kill me. I have no hope. Nevertheless, I will maintain my ways before him.
16 By doing this I will be saved since no godless person could come before him.
This also will be my salvation, that a godless man will not come before him.
17 Listen carefully to what I say, pay attention to my explanation.
Listen carefully to my speech. Let my declaration be in your ears.
18 Look, I've prepared my case—I know I will be proved right.
See now, I have set my cause in order. I know that I am righteous.
19 Who wants to argue with me? If I'm proved wrong, I'm prepared to be quiet and die.
Who is he who will contend with me? For then would I hold my peace and give up the spirit.
20 God, I have two requests, then I can face you.
“Only do not do two things to me, then I will not hide myself from your face:
21 Stop beating me, and stop terrifying me.
withdraw your hand far from me, and do not let your terror make me afraid.
22 Then call, and I will answer. Or let me speak, and then answer me.
Then call, and I will answer, or let me speak, and you answer me.
23 What are my sins and iniquities? Show me what have I done wrong; how have I rebelled against you?
How many are my iniquities and sins? Make me know my disobedience and my sin.
24 Why are you unfriendly towards me? Why do you treat me as your enemy?
Why do you hide your face, and consider me your enemy?
25 Would you frighten a leaf blown by the wind or hunt down a piece of straw?
Will you harass a driven leaf? Will you pursue the dry stubble?
26 For you write down bitter things against me and pay me back for the sins of my youth.
For you write bitter things against me, and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.
27 You put my feet in the stocks. You keep an eye on every step I take. You even inspect my footprints!
You also put my feet in the stocks, and mark all my paths. You set a bound to the soles of my feet,
28 I'm falling apart like something rotten, like moth-eaten clothes.
though I am decaying like a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten.
