Job 13
1 Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it.
Look, I've seen all this with my own eyes, and heard it with my own ears, and I understand it.
2 What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you.
I know what you know. You're no better than me.
3 Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with El.
But I would still like to speak to the Almighty: I want to prove myself to God!
4 But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.
As for you, you cover things up by telling lies! You are all like doctors who can't heal anyone!
5 O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.
I wish you would all be quiet! That would be the wisest thing for you to do.
6 Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.
Listen to my argument and pay attention to what I have to say.
7 Will ye speak wickedly for El? and talk deceitfully for him?
Do you think you can tell lies to defend God? Are you talking deceitfully on his behalf?
8 Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for El?
Or are you wanting to show God favoritism? Are you going to argue God's case for him?
9 Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him?
Will you be found to be doing good when God examines you? Can you fool him as if he's a human being?
10 He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.
No, he will definitely rebuke you if you secretly show him favoritism!
11 Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you?
Isn't his majesty terrifying to you? Aren't you so afraid of him you're paralyzed?
12 Your remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.
Your sayings are as helpful as ashes; your arguments as weak as clay.
13 Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.
Be quiet. Don't talk to me. Let me speak, come what may.
14 Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?
I take responsibility for myself; I am ready to risk my life.
15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
Even though he kills me, I will hope in him. I am still going to defend my ways before him.
16 He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.
By doing this I will be saved since no godless person could come before him.
17 Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.
Listen carefully to what I say, pay attention to my explanation.
18 Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.
Look, I've prepared my case—I know I will be proved right.
19 Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.
Who wants to argue with me? If I'm proved wrong, I'm prepared to be quiet and die.
20 Only do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from thee.
God, I have two requests, then I can face you.
21 Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid.
Stop beating me, and stop terrifying me.
22 Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me.
Then call, and I will answer. Or let me speak, and then answer me.
23 How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin.
What are my sins and iniquities? Show me what have I done wrong; how have I rebelled against you?
24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy?
Why are you unfriendly towards me? Why do you treat me as your enemy?
25 Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?
Would you frighten a leaf blown by the wind or hunt down a piece of straw?
26 For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth.
For you write down bitter things against me and pay me back for the sins of my youth.
27 Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet.
You put my feet in the stocks. You keep an eye on every step I take. You even inspect my footprints!
28 And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth eaten.
I'm falling apart like something rotten, like moth-eaten clothes.
