Job 13
1 Lo, all [this] hath my eye seen, my ear hath heard and noted it for itself;
Look, I've seen all this with my own eyes, and heard it with my own ears, and I understand it.
2 As much as ye know, do I also know: I do not fall short compared with you.
I know what you know. You're no better than me.
3 However, I would gladly speak to the Almighty; and to argue with God do I desire.
But I would still like to speak to the Almighty: I want to prove myself to God!
4 But ye are inventors of falsehood, physicians of no value are all of you.
As for you, you cover things up by telling lies! You are all like doctors who can't heal anyone!
5 Oh, who would grant that ye might keep a profound silences! and it would he accounted unto you as wisdom.
I wish you would all be quiet! That would be the wisest thing for you to do.
6 Do hearken but to my reasoning, and listen to the pleadings of my lips.
Listen to my argument and pay attention to what I have to say.
7 Will ye speak wrong things for God? and will ye speak for him deceitfully?
Do you think you can tell lies to defend God? Are you talking deceitfully on his behalf?
8 Will ye show him undue favor, when ye contend for God?
Or are you wanting to show God favoritism? Are you going to argue God's case for him?
9 Will it be well if he should search you out? or as one overreacheth another mortal, do ye expect to overreach him?
Will you be found to be doing good when God examines you? Can you fool him as if he's a human being?
10 He will surely reprove you, if in secret you show him undue favor.
No, he will definitely rebuke you if you secretly show him favoritism!
11 Doth not his excellency terrify you? and his dread fall upon you?
Isn't his majesty terrifying to you? Aren't you so afraid of him you're paralyzed?
12 The things you remember are mere proverbs of ashes, your high-places are high-places of clay.
Your sayings are as helpful as ashes; your arguments as weak as clay.
13 Keep silence toward me, that I may indeed speak, and let pass over me what will.
Be quiet. Don't talk to me. Let me speak, come what may.
14 Whatever it may cost, I will take my flesh in my teeth, and my life will I put in my hand.
I take responsibility for myself; I am ready to risk my life.
15 Lo, though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: only I will argue my own ways before him.
Even though he kills me, I will hope in him. I am still going to defend my ways before him.
16 Even he will come to my assistance; for a hypocrite cannot come before him.
By doing this I will be saved since no godless person could come before him.
17 Listen well to my word, and to my demonstration with your ears.
Listen carefully to what I say, pay attention to my explanation.
18 Behold now, I have arrayed my cause: I know that I shall be indeed justified.
Look, I've prepared my case—I know I will be proved right.
19 Who is he that will contend with me? for now, if I keep silence, I must perish.
Who wants to argue with me? If I'm proved wrong, I'm prepared to be quiet and die.
20 Only two things do not unto me: then will I not hide myself from thy presence.
God, I have two requests, then I can face you.
21 Remove thy hand far from me; and let not thy dread terrify me.
Stop beating me, and stop terrifying me.
22 Then call thou, and I will answer; or let me speak, and do thou reply to me.
Then call, and I will answer. Or let me speak, and then answer me.
23 How many are my iniquities and sins? my transgression and my sin let me know.
What are my sins and iniquities? Show me what have I done wrong; how have I rebelled against you?
24 Wherefore wilt thou hide thy face, and regard me as an enemy unto thee?
Why are you unfriendly towards me? Why do you treat me as your enemy?
25 Wilt thou terrify a leaf driven about [by the wind]? and wilt thou pursue dry stubble?
Would you frighten a leaf blown by the wind or hunt down a piece of straw?
26 That thou writest bitter decrees against me, and assignest unto me the iniquities of my youth;
For you write down bitter things against me and pay me back for 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?
You put my feet in the stocks. You keep an eye on every step I take. You even inspect my footprints!
28 And yet the body decayeth like a rotten thing, as a garment that the moth hath eaten.
I'm falling apart like something rotten, like moth-eaten clothes.
