Job 13
1 Lo! all this mine eye hath seen; Mine ear hath heard and understood it.
Behold my eye hath seen all these things, and my ear hath heard them, and I have understood them all.
2 What ye know, I know also; I am not inferior to you.
According to your knowledge I also know: neither am I inferior to you.
3 But O that I might speak with the Almighty! O that I might reason with God!
But yet I will speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.
4 For ye are forgers of lies; Physicians of no value, all of you!
Having first shewn that you are forgers of lies, and maintainers of perverse opinions.
5 O that ye would altogether hold your peace! This, truly, would be wisdom in you.
And I wish you would hold your peace, that you might be thought to be wise men.
6 Hear, I pray you, my arguments; Attend to the pleadings of my lips!
Hear ye therefore my reproof, and attend to the judgment of my lips.
7 Will ye speak falsehood for God? Will ye utter deceit for him?
Hath God any need of your lie, that you should speak deceitfully for him?
8 Will ye be partial to his person? Will ye contend earnestly for God?
Do you accept his person, and do you endeavour to judge for God?
9 Will it be well for you, if he search you thoroughly? Can ye deceive him, as one may deceive a man?
Or shall it please him, from whom nothing can be concealed? or shall he be deceived as a man, with your deceitful dealings?
10 Surely he will rebuke you, If ye secretly have respect to persons.
He shall reprove you, because in secret you accept his person.
11 Doth not his majesty make you afraid, And his dread fall upon you?
As soon as he shall move himself, he shall trouble you: and his dread shall fall upon you.
12 Your maxims are words of dust; Your fortresses are fortresses of clay.
Your remembrance shall be compared to ashes, and your necks shall be brought to clay.
13 Hold your peace, and let me speak: And then come upon me what will!
Hold your peace a little while, that I may speak whatsoever my mind shall suggest to me.
14 Why do I take my flesh in my teeth, And put my life in my hand?
Why do I tear my flesh with my teeth, and carry my soul in my hands?
15 Lo! he slayeth me, and I have no hope! Yet will I justify my ways before him.
Although he should bill me, I will trust in him: but yet I will reprove my ways in his sight.
16 This also shall be my deliverance; For no unrighteous man will come before him.
And he shall be my saviour: for no hypocrite shall come before his presence.
17 Hear attentively my words, And give ear to my declaration!
Hear ye my speech, and receive with Sour ears hidden truths.
18 Behold, I have now set in order my cause; I know that I am innocent.
If I shall be judged, I know that I shall be found just.
19 Who is he that can contend with me? For then would I hold my peace, and die!
Who is he that will plead against me? let him come: why am I consumed holding my peace?
20 Only do not unto me two things, Then will I not hide myself from thy presence;
Two things only do not to me, and then from thy face I shall not be hid:
21 Let not thy hand be heavy upon me, And let not thy terrors make me afraid:
Withdraw thy hand far from me, and let not thy dread terrify me.
22 Then call upon me, and I will answer; Or I will speak, and answer thou me.
Call me, and I will answer thee: or else I will speak, and do thou answer me.
23 How many are my iniquities and sins? Make me to know my faults and transgressions.
How many are my iniquities and sins? make me know my crimes and offences.
24 Wherefore dost thou hide thy face, And account me as thine enemy?
Why hidest thou thy face, and thinkest me thy enemy?
25 Wilt thou put in fear the driven leaf? Wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?
Against a leaf, that is carried away with the wind, thou shewest thy power, and thou pursuest a dry straw.
26 For thou writest bitter things against me, And makest me inherit the sins of my youth.
For thou writest bitter things against me, and wilt consume me for the sins of my youth.
27 Yea, thou puttest my feet in the stocks, And waterest all my paths; Thou hemmest in the soles of my feet.
Thou hast put my feet in the stocks, and hast observed all my paths, and hast considered the steps of my feet:
28 And I, like an abandoned thing, shall waste away; Like a garment which is moth-eaten.
Who am to be consumed as rottenness, and as a garment that is moth-eaten.
