Job 13
1 Loe, mine eye hath seene all this: mine eare hath heard, and vnderstande it.
Behold, mine eye has seen these things, and mine ear has heard [them].
2 I knowe also as much as you knowe: I am not inferiour vnto you.
And I know all that ye too know; and I have not less understanding than you.
3 But I will speake to the Almightie, and I desire to dispute with God.
Nevertheless I will speak to the Lord, and I will reason before him, if he will.
4 For in deede ye forge lyes, and all you are physitions of no value.
But ye are all bad physicians, and healers of diseases.
5 Oh, that you woulde holde your tongue, that it might be imputed to you for wisedome!
But would that ye were silent, and it would be wisdom to you in the end.
6 Nowe heare my disputation, and giue eare to the arguments of my lips.
But hear ye the reasoning of my mouth, and attend to the judgment of my lips.
7 Will ye speake wickedly for Gods defence, and talke deceitfully for his cause?
Do ye not speak before the Lord, and utter deceit before him?
8 Will ye accept his person? or will ye contende for God?
Or will ye draw back? nay do, ye yourselves be judges.
9 Is it well that he shoulde seeke of you? will you make a lye for him, as one lyeth for a man?
For [it were] well if he would thoroughly search you: for though doing all things [in your power] ye should attach yourselves to him,
10 He will surely reprooue you, if ye doe secretly accept any person.
he will not reprove you at all the less: but if moreover ye should secretly respect persons,
11 Shall not his excellencie make you afraid? and his feare fall vpon you?
shall not his whirlpool sweep you round, and terror from him fall upon you?
12 Your memories may be compared vnto ashes, and your bodyes to bodyes of clay.
And your glorying shall prove in the end to you like ashes, and your body [like a body] of clay.
13 Holde your tongues in my presence, that I may speake, and let come vpon what will.
Be silent, that I may speak, and cease from [mine] anger,
14 Wherefore doe I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my soule in mine hande?
while I may take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand.
15 Loe, though he slay me, yet will I trust in him, and I will reprooue my wayes in his sight.
Though the Mighty One should lay hand upon me, forasmuch as he has begun, verily I will speak, and plead before him.
16 He shalbe my saluation also: for the hypocrite shall not come before him.
And this shall turn to me for salvation; for fraud shall have no entrance before him.
17 Heare diligently my wordes, and marke my talke.
Hear, hear ye my words, for I will declare in your hearing.
18 Beholde nowe: if I prepare me to iudgement, I knowe that I shalbe iustified.
Behold, I am near my judgment: I know that I shall appear evidently just.
19 Who is he, that will pleade with me? for if I nowe holde my tongue, I dye.
For who is he that shall plead with me, that I should now be silent, and expire?
20 But doe not these two things vnto me: then will I not hide my selfe from thee.
But grant me two things: then I will not hide myself from thy face.
21 Withdrawe thine hande from me, and let not thy feare make me afraide.
Withhold [thine] hand from me: and let not thy fear terrify me.
22 Then call thou, and I will answere: or let me speake, and answere thou me.
Then shalt thou call, and I will hearken to thee: or thou shalt speak, and I will give thee an answer.
23 Howe many are mine iniquities and sinnes? shewe me my rebellion, and my sinne.
How many are my sins and my transgressions? teach me what they are.
24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and takest me for thine enemie?
Wherefore hidest thou thyself from me, and deemest me thine enemy?
25 Wilt thou breake a leafe driuen to and from? and wilt thou pursue the drie stubble?
Wilt thou be startled [at me], as [at] a leaf shaken by the wind? or wilt thou set thyself against me as against grass borne upon the breeze?
26 For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possesse the iniquities of my youth.
for thou hast written evil things against me, and thou hast compassed me with the sins of my youth.
27 Thou puttest my feete also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly vnto all my pathes, and makest the print thereof in ye heeles of my feet.
And thou hast placed my foot in the stocks; and thou hast watched all my works, and hast penetrated my heels.
28 Such one consumeth like a rotten thing, and as a garment that is motheaten.
[I am as] that which waxes old like a bottle, or like a moth-eaten garment.
