< Job 13 >

1 See, my eye has seen all this, my ear has heard and understood it.
Lo, mine eye hath seen all [this], mine ear hath heard and understood it.
2 What you know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior to you.
What ye know, I know also: I am not inferior to you.
3 Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.
But I will speak to the Almighty, and will find pleasure in reasoning with God;
4 But you are forgers of lies, you are all physicians of no value.
For ye indeed are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.
5 O that you would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.
Oh that ye would be altogether silent! and it would be your wisdom.
6 Hear now my reasoning, and listen to the pleadings of my lips.
Hear now my defence, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.
7 Will you speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?
Will ye speak unrighteously for God? and for him speak deceit?
8 Will you accept his person? will you contend for God?
Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God?
9 Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocks another, do you so mock him?
Will it be well if he should search you out? or as one mocketh at a man, will ye mock at him?
10 He will surely reprove you, if you do secretly accept persons.
He will certainly reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.
11 Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall on you?
Shall not his excellency terrify you? and his dread fall upon you?
12 Your remembrances are like to ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.
Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes, your bulwarks are bulwarks of mire.
13 Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.
Hold your peace from me, and I will speak, and let come on me what [will]!
14 Why do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand?
Wherefore should I 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 maintain my own ways before him.
Behold, if he slay me, yet would I trust in him; but I will defend mine own ways before him.
16 He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.
This also shall be my salvation, that a profane man shall not come before his face.
17 Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.
Hear attentively my speech and my declaration with your ears.
18 Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.
Behold now, I have ordered the cause; I know that I shall be justified.
19 Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.
Who is he that contendeth with me? For if I were silent now, I should expire.
20 Only do not two things to me: then will I not hide myself from you.
Only do not two things unto me; then will I not hide myself from thee.
21 Withdraw your hand far from me: and let not your dread make me afraid.
Withdraw thy hand far from me; and let not thy terror make me afraid:
22 Then call you, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer you me.
Then call, and I will answer; or I will speak, and answer thou me.
23 How many are my iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin.
How many are mine iniquities and sins? Make me to know my transgression and my sin.
24 Why hide you your face, and hold me for your enemy?
Wherefore dost thou hide thy face, and countest me for thine enemy?
25 Will you break a leaf driven to and fro? and will you pursue the dry stubble?
Wilt thou terrify a driven leaf? and wilt thou pursue dry stubble?
26 For you write bitter things against me, and make me to possess the iniquities of my youth.
For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth;
27 You put my feet also in the stocks, and look narrowly to all my paths; you set a print on the heels of my feet.
And thou puttest my feet in the stocks, and markest all my paths; thou settest a bound about the soles of my feet; —
28 And he, as a rotten thing, consumes, as a garment that is moth eaten.
One who, as a rotten thing consumeth, as a garment that the moth eateth.

< Job 13 >