Job 13
1 Lo, mine eye has seen all this, mine ear has 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 all of you 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 God.
But I would still like to speak to the Almighty: I want to prove myself to God!
4 But all of you are forgers of lies, all of you 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 all of you 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 all of you speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?
Do you think you can tell lies to defend God? Are you talking deceitfully on his behalf?
8 Will all of you accept his person? will all of you contend for God?
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 mocks another, do all of you 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 all of you 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 spirit.
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 you.
God, I have two requests, then I can face you.
21 Withdraw your hand far from me: and let not your dread make me afraid.
Stop beating me, and stop terrifying me.
22 Then call you, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer you 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 hide you your face, and hold me for your enemy?
Why are you unfriendly towards me? Why do you treat me as your enemy?
25 Will you break a leaf driven back and forth? and will you pursue the dry stubble?
Would you frighten a leaf blown by the wind or hunt down a piece of straw?
26 For you write bitter things against me, and make 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 You put my feet also in the stocks, and look narrowly unto all my paths; you set 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, consumes, as a garment that is moth eaten.
I'm falling apart like something rotten, like moth-eaten clothes.
