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, [the same] 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 Surely 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] forgers of lies, ye [are] all physicians of no value.

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

5 O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should 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 wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?

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

8 Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God?

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

9 Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye [so] 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 accept persons.

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

11 Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you?

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

12 Your remembrances [are] like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies 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 do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine 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 maintain mine own 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 He also [shall be] my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not 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 my declaration with 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 plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.

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 thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread 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 break a leaf driven to and fro? 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 For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess 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 settest a print upon the heels 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 And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth eaten.

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