Job 13

1 Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it.

Behold, mine eye has seen these things, and mine ear has heard [them].

2 What ye know, do I know also; I am not inferior unto you.

And I know all that you too know; and I have not less understanding than you.

3 Notwithstanding I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.

Nevertheless I will speak to the Lord, and I will reason before him, if he will.

4 But ye are plasterers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.

But you are all bad physicians, and healers of diseases.

5 Oh that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it would be your wisdom.

But would that you were silent, and it would be wisdom to you in the end.

6 Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.

But hear you the reasoning of my mouth, and attend to the judgement of my lips.

7 Will ye speak unrighteously for God, and talk deceitfully for Him?

Do you not speak before the Lord, and utter deceit before him?

8 Will ye show Him favour? Will ye contend for God?

Or will you draw back? nay do, you yourselves be judges.

9 Would it be good that He should search you out? Or as one mocketh a man, will ye mock Him?

For [it were] well if he would thoroughly search you: for though doing all things [in your power] you should attach yourselves to him,

10 He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly show favour.

he will not reprove you at all the less: but if moreover you should secretly respect persons,

11 Shall not His majesty terrify you, and His dread fall upon you?

shall not his whirlpool sweep you round, and terror from him fall upon you?

12 Your memorials shall be like unto ashes, your eminences to eminences of clay.

And your glorying shall prove in the end to you like ashes, and your body [like a body] of clay.

13 Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.

Be silent, that I may speak, and cease from [mine] anger,

14 Wherefore? I will take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand.

while I may take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand.

15 Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him; but I will argue my ways before Him.

Though the Mighty One should lay hand upon me, forasmuch as he has begun, verily I will speak, and plead before him.

16 This also shall be my salvation, that a hypocrite cannot come before Him.

And this shall turn to me for salvation; for fraud shall have no entrance before him.

17 Hear diligently my speech, and let my declaration be in your ears.

Hear, hear you my words, for I will declare in your hearing.

18 Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.

Behold, I am near my judgement: I know that I shall appear evidently just.

19 Who is he that will contend with me? For then would I hold my peace and die.

For who is he that shall plead with me, that I should now be silent, and expire?

20 Only do not two things unto me, then will I not hide myself from Thee:

But grant me two things: then I will not hide myself from your face.

21 Withdraw Thy hand far from me; and let not Thy terror make me afraid.

Withhold [your] hand from me: and let not your fear terrify me.

22 Then call Thou, and I will answer; or let me speak, and answer Thou me.

Then shall you call, and I will listen to you: or you shall speak, and I will give you an answer.

23 How many are mine iniquities and sins? Make me to know my transgression and my sin.

How many are my sins and my transgressions? teach me what they are.

24 Wherefore hidest Thou Thy face, and holdest me for Thine enemy?

Therefore hide you yourself from me, and deem me your enemy?

25 Wilt Thou harass a driven leaf? And wilt Thou pursue the dry stubble?

Will you be startled [at me], as [at] a leaf shaken by the wind? or will you set yourself against me as against grass borne upon the breeze?

26 That Thou shouldest write bitter things against me, and make me to inherit the iniquities of my youth.

for you have written evil things against me, and you have compassed me with the sins of my youth.

27 Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; Thou drawest Thee a line about the soles of my feet;

And you have placed my foot in the stocks; and you have watched all my works, and have penetrated my heels.

28 Though I am like a wine-skin that consumeth, like a garment that is moth-eaten.

[I am as] that which waxes old like a bottle, or like a moth-eaten garment.