Job 13
1 Look, I've seen all this with my own eyes, and heard it with my own ears, and I understand it.
Lo, all — hath mine eye seen, Heard hath mine ear, and it attendeth to it.
2 I know what you know. You're no better than me.
According to your knowledge I have known — also I. I am not fallen more than you.
3 But I would still like to speak to the Almighty: I want to prove myself to God!
Yet I for the Mighty One do speak, And to argue for God I delight.
4 As for you, you cover things up by telling lies! You are all like doctors who can't heal anyone!
And yet, ye [are] forgers of falsehood, Physicians of nought — all of you,
5 I wish you would all be quiet! That would be the wisest thing for you to do.
O that ye would keep perfectly silent, And it would be to you for wisdom.
6 Listen to my argument and pay attention to what I have to say.
Hear, I pray you, my argument, And to the pleadings of my lips attend,
7 Do you think you can tell lies to defend God? Are you talking deceitfully on his behalf?
For God do ye speak perverseness? And for Him do ye speak deceit?
8 Or are you wanting to show God favoritism? Are you going to argue God's case for him?
His face do ye accept, if for God ye strive?
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 doth search you, If, as one mocketh at a man, ye mock at Him?
10 No, he will definitely rebuke you if you secretly show him favoritism!
He doth surely reprove you, if in secret ye accept faces.
11 Isn't his majesty terrifying to you? Aren't you so afraid of him you're paralyzed?
Doth not His excellency terrify you? And His dread fall upon you?
12 Your sayings are as helpful as ashes; your arguments as weak as clay.
Your remembrances [are] similes of ashes, For high places of clay your heights.
13 Be quiet. Don't talk to me. Let me speak, come what may.
Keep silent from me, and I speak, And pass over me doth what?
14 I take responsibility for myself; I am ready to risk my life.
Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth? And my soul put in my hand?
15 Even though he kills me, I will hope in him. I am still going to defend my ways before him.
Lo, He doth slay me — I wait not! Only, my ways unto His face I argue.
16 By doing this I will be saved since no godless person could come before him.
Also — He [is] to me for salvation, For the profane cometh not before Him.
17 Listen carefully to what I say, pay attention to my explanation.
Hear ye diligently my word, And my declaration with your ears.
18 Look, I've prepared my case—I know I will be proved right.
Lo, I pray you, I have set in order the cause, I have known 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 that doth strive with me? For now I keep silent and gasp.
20 God, I have two requests, then I can face you.
Only two things, O God, do with me: Then from Thy face I am not hidden.
21 Stop beating me, and stop terrifying me.
Thy hand put far off from me, And Thy terror let not terrify me.
22 Then call, and I will answer. Or let me speak, and then answer me.
And call Thou, and I — I answer, Or — I speak, and answer Thou me.
23 What are my sins and iniquities? Show me what have I done wrong; how have I rebelled against you?
How many iniquities and sins have I? My transgression and my sin let me know.
24 Why are you unfriendly towards me? Why do you treat me as your enemy?
Why dost Thou hide Thy face? And reckonest me for an enemy to Thee?
25 Would you frighten a leaf blown by the wind or hunt down a piece of straw?
A leaf driven away dost Thou terrify? And the dry stubble dost Thou pursue?
26 For you write down bitter things against me and pay me back for the sins of my youth.
For Thou writest against me bitter things, And causest me to possess 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!
And puttest in the stocks my feet, And observest all my paths, On the roots of my feet Thou settest a print,
28 I'm falling apart like something rotten, like moth-eaten clothes.
And he, as a rotten thing, weareth away, As a garment hath a moth consumed him.
