Job 13
1 Behold, mine eye has seen these things, and mine ear has heard [them].
“Hey, I [SYN] have seen everything [that you have seen], and I have heard and understood all [that you have said].
2 And I know all that you too know; and I have not less understanding than you.
What you know, I also know; I do (not know less than/know as much as) you.
3 Nevertheless I will speak to the Lord, and I will reason before him, if he will.
But I would like to speak to Almighty God, [not to you]; I would like to argue with him [and prove that I (am innocent/have not done things that are wrong]).
4 But you are all bad physicians, and healers of diseases.
As for you, you do not allow people to know the truth about me, like someone covers [up a bad surface of a wall] with whitewash [MET]. You are all like doctors [MET] [that give people] useless [medicines].
5 But would that you were silent, and it would be wisdom to you in the end.
I wish/desire that you would be silent; that would be the wisest thing that you [could do].
6 But hear you the reasoning of my mouth, and attend to the judgment of my lips.
Listen to what I will say to you now; listen while I am saying [what is true about myself].
7 Do you not speak before the Lord, and utter deceit before him?
Are you telling lies about me to prove God [is just in causing me to suffer]? Are you saying what is deceitful in order to benefit him?
8 Or will you draw back? nay do, you yourselves be judges.
Are you trying to defend him? Are you trying to prove [as you would] in a court that he is innocent?
9 For [it were] well if he would thoroughly search you: for though doing all things [in your power] you should attach yourselves to him,
If he looks closely, will he find that everything that you have done is good? Or can you deceive him, like you deceive other people?
10 he will not reprove you at all the less: but if moreover you should secretly respect persons,
If you secretly say/do things to cause God to act favorably toward you, he will surely rebuke you.
11 shall not his whirlpool sweep you round, and terror from him fall upon you?
He will certainly [RHQ] cause you to be terrified by his power/greatness; you will become extremely afraid.
12 And your glorying shall prove in the end to you like ashes, and your body [like a body] of clay.
The things that you say [that you think are] wise are [as useless as] [MET] as ashes; what you say to defend your opinions is no better than [MET] clay [that quickly crumbles].
13 Be silent, that I may speak, and cease from [mine] anger,
“So, be quiet and allow me to speak, and then it will not matter what happens to me.
14 while I may take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand.
I am ready to endure anything; I am [even] willing to risk being executed [IDM, DOU] [for what I will say].
15 Though the Mighty One should lay hand upon me, forasmuch as he has begun, verily I will speak, and plead before him.
If God kills me, then I will not have anyone else whom I can confidently expect to help me, but I am going to defend my behavior in his presence [anyway].
16 And this shall turn to me for salvation; for fraud shall have no entrance before him.
No wicked/godless person would dare to stand in the presence of God, [but because I say that I have not done things that are wrong], perhaps, if I can prove that to God, he will save me.”
17 Hear, hear you my words, for I will declare in your hearing.
“God, listen very carefully to what I say [DOU].
18 Behold, I am near my judgment: I know that I shall appear evidently just.
I am ready to prove that I am innocent, and I know that you also will declare that I am not guilty.
19 For who is he that shall plead with me, that I should now be silent, and expire?
I certainly do not think [RHQ] that [you or anyone else] will say that what I say is not true; if anyone did that, I would (be silent/stop talking) and die.
20 But grant me two things: then I will not hide myself from your face.
“I am requesting you to do two things for me; if you do them, I will (not hide from you/come and stand in front of you) [LIT].
21 Withhold [your] hand from me: and let not your fear terrify me.
[The first thing that I request is that you] stop punishing [IDM] me; and [the second thing that I request is that you] stop causing me to be very terrified.
22 Then shall you call, and I will listen to you: or you shall speak, and I will give you an answer.
You speak [first], and then I will reply; or allow me to speak first, and [then] you reply.
23 How many are my sins and my transgressions? teach me what they are.
What have I done that is wrong? What sins have I committed? Show me how I have disobeyed you.
24 Therefore hide you yourself from me, and deem me your enemy?
Why (do you refuse to be friendly with/have you abandoned) me [IDM]? Why do you (act toward me as though I am/consider me to be) your enemy?
25 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?
I am [as insignificant as] [MET] a leaf that is blown by the wind; why are you trying to cause me to be afraid [RHQ]? Why are you pursuing me? Am I [useless, nothing more than a bit of] dry chaff [RHQ]?
26 for you have written evil things against me, and you have compassed me with the sins of my youth.
[It seems that] you are writing things to accuse me [of doing things that are wrong], even recalling bad things that I did when I was young.
27 And you have placed my foot in the stocks; and you have watched all my works, and have penetrated my heels.
[It is as though] you have fastened my feet with chains [to prevent me from walking], and you watch me wherever I walk; [It is as though] you even look closely at my footprints [to see where I have gone].
28 [I am as] that which waxes old like a bottle, or like a moth-eaten garment.
[As a result], my body is decaying like [SIM] rotten wood, like a piece of cloth that is eaten by [larvae of] moths.”
