Job 13
1 Behold, mine eye has seen these things, and mine ear has heard [them].
Lo, my eye hath seen all [this], my ear hath heard and understood it.
2 And I know all that you too know; and I have not less understanding than you.
What ye know, [the same] do I know also: I [am] not inferior to you.
3 Nevertheless I will speak to the Lord, and I will reason before him, if he will.
Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.
4 But you are all bad physicians, and healers of diseases.
But ye [are] forgers of lies, ye [are] all physicians of no value.
5 But would that you were silent, and it would be wisdom to you in the end.
O that ye would altogether hold your peace and it would be your wisdom.
6 But hear you the reasoning of my mouth, and attend to the judgment of my lips.
Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.
7 Do you not speak before the Lord, and utter deceit before him?
Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?
8 Or will you draw back? nay do, you yourselves be judges.
Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God?
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,
Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye [so] mock him?
10 he will not reprove you at all the less: but if moreover you should secretly respect persons,
He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.
11 shall not his whirlpool sweep you round, and terror from him fall upon you?
Shall not his excellence make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you?
12 And your glorying shall prove in the end to you like ashes, and your body [like a body] of clay.
Your remembrances [are] like to ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.
13 Be silent, that I may speak, and cease from [mine] anger,
Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what [will].
14 while I may take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand.
Why do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand?
15 Though the Mighty One should lay hand upon me, forasmuch as he has begun, verily I will speak, and plead before him.
Though he shall slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain my own ways before him.
16 And this shall turn to me for salvation; for fraud shall have no entrance before him.
He also [shall be] my salvation: for a hypocrite shall not come before him.
17 Hear, hear you my words, for I will declare in your hearing.
Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.
18 Behold, I am near my judgment: I know that I shall appear evidently just.
Behold now, I have ordered [my] cause; I know that I shall be justified.
19 For who is he that shall plead with me, that I should now be silent, and expire?
Who [is] he [that] will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall expire.
20 But grant me two things: then I will not hide myself from your face.
Only do not two [things] to me: then will I not hide myself from thee.
21 Withhold [your] hand from me: and let not your fear terrify me.
Withdraw thy hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid.
22 Then shall you call, and I will listen to you: or you shall speak, and I will give you an answer.
Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me.
23 How many are my sins and my transgressions? teach me what they are.
How many [are] my iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin.
24 Therefore hide you yourself from me, and deem me your enemy?
Why hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thy 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?
Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?
26 for you have written evil things against me, and you have compassed me with the sins of my youth.
For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth.
27 And you have placed my foot in the stocks; and you have watched all my works, and have penetrated my heels.
Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly to all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet.
28 [I am as] that which waxes old like a bottle, or like a moth-eaten garment.
And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth-eaten.
