Job 13
1 Lo! all this mine eye hath seen; Mine ear hath heard and understood it.
Look, I've seen all this with my own eyes, and heard it with my own ears, and I understand it.
2 What ye know, I know also; I am not inferior to you.
I know what you know. You're no better than me.
3 But O that I might speak with the Almighty! O that I might reason with God!
But I would still like to speak to the Almighty: I want to prove myself to God!
4 For ye are forgers of lies; Physicians of no value, all of you!
As for you, you cover things up by telling lies! You are all like doctors who can't heal anyone!
5 O that ye would altogether hold your peace! This, truly, would be wisdom in you.
I wish you would all be quiet! That would be the wisest thing for you to do.
6 Hear, I pray you, my arguments; Attend to the pleadings of my lips!
Listen to my argument and pay attention to what I have to say.
7 Will ye speak falsehood for God? Will ye utter deceit for him?
Do you think you can tell lies to defend God? Are you talking deceitfully on his behalf?
8 Will ye be partial to his person? Will ye contend earnestly 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 for you, if he search you thoroughly? Can ye deceive him, as one may deceive a man?
Will you be found to be doing good when God examines you? Can you fool him as if he's a human being?
10 Surely he will rebuke you, If ye secretly have respect to persons.
No, he will definitely rebuke you if you secretly show him favoritism!
11 Doth not his majesty make you afraid, And his dread fall upon you?
Isn't his majesty terrifying to you? Aren't you so afraid of him you're paralyzed?
12 Your maxims are words of dust; Your fortresses are fortresses of clay.
Your sayings are as helpful as ashes; your arguments as weak as clay.
13 Hold your peace, and let me speak: And then come upon me what will!
Be quiet. Don't talk to me. Let me speak, come what may.
14 Why do I take my flesh in my teeth, And put my life in my hand?
I take responsibility for myself; I am ready to risk my life.
15 Lo! he slayeth me, and I have no hope! Yet will I justify my ways before him.
Even though he kills me, I will hope in him. I am still going to defend my ways before him.
16 This also shall be my deliverance; For no unrighteous man will come before him.
By doing this I will be saved since no godless person could come before him.
17 Hear attentively my words, And give ear to my declaration!
Listen carefully to what I say, pay attention to my explanation.
18 Behold, I have now set in order my cause; I know that I am innocent.
Look, I've prepared my case—I know I will be proved right.
19 Who is he that can contend with me? For then would I hold my peace, and die!
Who wants to argue with me? If I'm proved wrong, I'm prepared to be quiet and die.
20 Only do not unto me two things, Then will I not hide myself from thy presence;
God, I have two requests, then I can face you.
21 Let not thy hand be heavy upon me, And let not thy terrors make me afraid:
Stop beating me, and stop terrifying me.
22 Then call upon me, and I will answer; Or I will speak, and answer thou me.
Then call, and I will answer. Or let me speak, and then answer me.
23 How many are my iniquities and sins? Make me to know my faults and transgressions.
What are my sins and iniquities? Show me what have I done wrong; how have I rebelled against you?
24 Wherefore dost thou hide thy face, And account me as thine enemy?
Why are you unfriendly towards me? Why do you treat me as your enemy?
25 Wilt thou put in fear the driven leaf? Wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?
Would you frighten a leaf blown by the wind or hunt down a piece of straw?
26 For thou writest bitter things against me, And makest me inherit the sins of my youth.
For you write down bitter things against me and pay me back 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.
You put my feet in the stocks. You keep an eye on every step I take. You even inspect my footprints!
28 And I, like an abandoned thing, shall waste away; Like a garment which is moth-eaten.
I'm falling apart like something rotten, like moth-eaten clothes.
