Job 13
1 Behold, mine eye has seen these things, and mine ear has heard [them].
Lo, all — hath mine eye seen, Heard hath mine ear, and it attendeth to it.
2 And I know all that you too know; and I have not less understanding than you.
According to your knowledge I have known — also I. I am not fallen more than you.
3 Nevertheless I will speak to the Lord, and I will reason before him, if he will.
Yet I for the Mighty One do speak, And to argue for God I delight.
4 But you are all bad physicians, and healers of diseases.
And yet, ye [are] forgers of falsehood, Physicians of nought — all of you,
5 But would that you were silent, and it would be wisdom to you in the end.
O that ye would keep perfectly silent, And it would be to you for wisdom.
6 But hear you the reasoning of my mouth, and attend to the judgment of my lips.
Hear, I pray you, my argument, And to the pleadings of my lips attend,
7 Do you not speak before the Lord, and utter deceit before him?
For God do ye speak perverseness? And for Him do ye speak deceit?
8 Or will you draw back? nay do, you yourselves be judges.
His face do ye accept, if for God ye strive?
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 doth search you, If, as one mocketh at a man, ye mock at Him?
10 he will not reprove you at all the less: but if moreover you should secretly respect persons,
He doth surely reprove you, if in secret ye accept faces.
11 shall not his whirlpool sweep you round, and terror from him fall upon you?
Doth not His excellency terrify you? 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] similes of ashes, For high places of clay your heights.
13 Be silent, that I may speak, and cease from [mine] anger,
Keep silent from me, and I speak, And pass over me doth what?
14 while I may take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand.
Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth? And my soul put 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.
Lo, He doth slay me — I wait not! Only, my ways unto His face I argue.
16 And this shall turn to me for salvation; for fraud shall have no entrance before him.
Also — He [is] to me for salvation, For the profane cometh not before Him.
17 Hear, hear you my words, for I will declare in your hearing.
Hear ye diligently my word, And my declaration with your ears.
18 Behold, I am near my judgment: I know that I shall appear evidently just.
Lo, I pray you, I have set in order the cause, I have known that I am righteous.
19 For who is he that shall plead with me, that I should now be silent, and expire?
Who [is] he that doth strive with me? For now I keep silent and gasp.
20 But grant me two things: then I will not hide myself from your face.
Only two things, O God, do with me: Then from Thy face I am not hidden.
21 Withhold [your] hand from me: and let not your fear terrify me.
Thy hand put far off from me, And Thy terror let not terrify me.
22 Then shall you call, and I will listen to you: or you shall speak, and I will give you an answer.
And call Thou, and I — I answer, Or — I speak, and answer Thou me.
23 How many are my sins and my transgressions? teach me what they are.
How many iniquities and sins have I? My transgression and my sin let me know.
24 Therefore hide you yourself from me, and deem me your enemy?
Why dost Thou hide Thy face? And reckonest me for an enemy to Thee?
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?
A leaf driven away dost Thou terrify? And the dry stubble dost Thou pursue?
26 for you have written evil things against me, and you have compassed me with the sins of my youth.
For Thou writest against me bitter things, And causest me to possess 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.
And puttest in the stocks my feet, And observest all my paths, On the roots of my feet Thou settest a print,
28 [I am as] that which waxes old like a bottle, or like a moth-eaten garment.
And he, as a rotten thing, weareth away, As a garment hath a moth consumed him.
