Job 13
1 Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it.
Behold, my eye has seen all these things, and my ear has heard, and I have understood each one.
2 What ye know, do I know also; I am not inferior unto you.
In conformity with your knowledge, I also know. I am not inferior to you.
3 Notwithstanding I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.
Yet I speak this way to the Almighty, and I desire to argue with God,
4 But ye are plasterers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.
having first shown that you fabricate lies and cultivate perverse teachings.
5 Oh that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it would be your wisdom.
And I wish that you would remain silent, so that you would be counted among the wise.
6 Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.
Therefore, listen to my correction, and pay attention to the judgment of my lips.
7 Will ye speak unrighteously for God, and talk deceitfully for Him?
Does God require your lie, so that you would speak deceitfully for him?
8 Will ye show Him favour? Will ye contend for God?
Have you taken his place, and do you struggle to give judgment in favor of God?
9 Would it be good that He should search you out? Or as one mocketh a man, will ye mock Him?
Or, will it please him, from whom nothing can be concealed? Or, will he be deceived, like a man, by your deceitfulness?
10 He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly show favour.
He will accuse you because in secret you have preempted his presence.
11 Shall not His majesty terrify you, and His dread fall upon you?
As soon as he moves himself, he will disturb you, and his dread will fall over you.
12 Your memorials shall be like unto ashes, your eminences to eminences of clay.
Your remembrance will be compared to ashes, and your necks will be reduced to clay.
13 Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.
Be silent for a little while, so that I may speak whatever my mind suggests to me.
14 Wherefore? I will take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand.
Why do I wound my flesh with my teeth, and carry my soul in my hands?
15 Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him; but I will argue my ways before Him.
And now, if he would kill me, I will hope in him; in this, truly, I will correct my ways in his sight.
16 This also shall be my salvation, that a hypocrite cannot come before Him.
And he will be my savior, for no hypocrite at all will approach in his sight.
17 Hear diligently my speech, and let my declaration be in your ears.
Listen to my words, and perceive an enigma with your ears.
18 Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.
If I will be judged, I know that I will be found to be just.
19 Who is he that will contend with me? For then would I hold my peace and die.
Who is it that will go to judgment with me? Let him approach. Why should I be consumed in silence?
20 Only do not two things unto me, then will I not hide myself from Thee:
Do not do such things to me twice, and then I will not hide from your face.
21 Withdraw Thy hand far from me; and let not Thy terror make me afraid.
Take your hand far away from me, and do not let your dread terrify me.
22 Then call Thou, and I will answer; or let me speak, and answer Thou me.
Call me, and I will answer you, or else I will speak, and you can answer me.
23 How many are mine iniquities and sins? Make me to know my transgression and my sin.
How many iniquities and sins do I have? Reveal my crimes and offenses to me.
24 Wherefore hidest Thou Thy face, and holdest me for Thine enemy?
Why do you conceal your face and consider me to be your enemy?
25 Wilt Thou harass a driven leaf? And wilt Thou pursue the dry stubble?
Against a leaf, which is carried away by the wind, you reveal your power, and you pursue dry straw.
26 That Thou shouldest write bitter things against me, and make me to inherit the iniquities of my youth.
For you write bitter things against me, and you want to consume me for 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;
You have put my feet on a tether, and you have observed all my paths, and you have considered the steps of my feet.
28 Though I am like a wine-skin that consumeth, like a garment that is moth-eaten.
I will be left to decay like something rotten and like a garment that is being eaten by moths.
