Job 13
1 Lo, all [this] hath my eye seen, my ear hath heard and noted it for itself;
Behold, mine eye has seen these things, and mine ear has heard [them].
2 As much as ye know, do I also know: I do not fall short compared with you.
And I know all that you too know; and I have not less understanding than you.
3 However, I would gladly speak to the Almighty; and to argue with God do I desire.
Nevertheless I will speak to the Lord, and I will reason before him, if he will.
4 But ye are inventors of falsehood, physicians of no value are all of you.
But you are all bad physicians, and healers of diseases.
5 Oh, who would grant that ye might keep a profound silences! and it would he accounted unto you as wisdom.
But would that you were silent, and it would be wisdom to you in the end.
6 Do hearken but to my reasoning, and listen 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 wrong things for God? and will ye speak for him deceitfully?
Do you not speak before the Lord, and utter deceit before him?
8 Will ye show him undue favor, when ye contend for God?
Or will you draw back? nay do, you yourselves be judges.
9 Will it be well if he should search you out? or as one overreacheth another mortal, do ye expect to overreach 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 in secret you show him undue favor.
he will not reprove you at all the less: but if moreover you should secretly respect persons,
11 Doth not his excellency terrify you? and his dread fall upon you?
shall not his whirlpool sweep you round, and terror from him fall upon you?
12 The things you remember are mere proverbs of ashes, your high-places are high-places of clay.
And your glorying shall prove in the end to you like ashes, and your body [like a body] of clay.
13 Keep silence toward me, that I may indeed speak, and let pass over me what will.
Be silent, that I may speak, and cease from [mine] anger,
14 Whatever it may cost, I will take my flesh in my teeth, and my life will I put in my hand.
while I may take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand.
15 Lo, though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: only I will argue my 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 Even he will come to my assistance; for a hypocrite cannot come before him.
And this shall turn to me for salvation; for fraud shall have no entrance before him.
17 Listen well to my word, and to my demonstration with your ears.
Hear, hear you my words, for I will declare in your hearing.
18 Behold now, I have arrayed my cause: I know that I shall be indeed justified.
Behold, I am near my judgement: I know that I shall appear evidently just.
19 Who is he that will contend with me? for now, if I keep silence, I must perish.
For who is he that shall plead with me, that I should now be silent, and expire?
20 Only two things do not unto me: then will I not hide myself from thy presence.
But grant me two things: then I will not hide myself from your face.
21 Remove thy hand far from me; and let not thy dread terrify me.
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 do thou reply to 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 my iniquities and sins? my transgression and my sin let me know.
How many are my sins and my transgressions? teach me what they are.
24 Wherefore wilt thou hide thy face, and regard me as an enemy unto thee?
Therefore hide you yourself from me, and deem me your enemy?
25 Wilt thou terrify a leaf driven about [by the wind]? and wilt thou pursue 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 That thou writest bitter decrees against me, and assignest unto me 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 And [that] thou puttest my feet in the stocks, and watchest narrowly all my paths; [and] settest for thyself a mark upon the soles 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 yet the body decayeth like a rotten thing, as a garment that the moth hath eaten.
[I am as] that which waxes old like a bottle, or like a moth-eaten garment.
