Job 13
1 Lo! all [this], hath mine own eye seen, —Mine ear hath heard and understood it:
“Indeed, my eyes have seen all this; my ears have heard and understood.
2 Just as ye know, I too, know, I, fall not short, of you.
What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you.
3 But indeed, I, unto the Almighty, would speak, and, to direct my argument unto GOD, would I be well pleased.
Yet I desire to speak to the Almighty and argue my case before God.
4 For, in truth, ye, do besmear with falsehood, Worthless physicians, all of you!
You, however, smear with lies; you are all worthless physicians.
5 Oh that ye would, altogether hold your peace, and it should serve you for wisdom!
If only you would remain silent; for that would be your wisdom!
6 Hear, I pray you, the argument of my mouth, and, to the pleadings of my lips, give heed: —
Hear now my argument, and listen to the plea of my lips.
7 Is it, for God, ye would speak perversely? And, for him, would ye speak deceit:
Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf or speak deceitfully for Him?
8 Even, for him, would ye be partial? Or, for GOD, would ye [so] plead?
Would you show Him partiality or argue in His defense?
9 Would it be well, when he searched you out? Or, as one might jest with a mortal, would ye jest, with him?
Would it be well when He examined you? Could you deceive Him like a man?
10 He will, severely rebuke, you, if ye are secretly partial.
Surely He would rebuke you if you secretly showed partiality.
11 Shall not, his majesty, overwhelm you? and, the dread of him, fall upon you?
Would His majesty not terrify you? Would the dread of Him not fall upon you?
12 Are not your memorable sayings, proverbs of ashes? Breastworks of clay, your breastworks?
Your maxims are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay.
13 Quietly let me alone, that, I, may speak out, then let come on me, what may.
Be silent, and I will speak. Then let come to me what may.
14 In any case, I will take up my flesh in my teeth, and, my life, will I put in my hand:
Why do I put myself at risk and take my life in my own hands?
15 Lo! he may slay me, [yet], for him, will I wait, —Nevertheless, my ways—unto his face, will I show to be right:
Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. I will still defend my ways to His face.
16 Even he, will be on my side—unto salvation, For, not before his face, shall any impious person come.
Moreover, this will be my salvation, for no godless man can appear before Him.
17 Hear ye patiently my speech, and be my declaration in your ears.
Listen carefully to my words; let my declaration ring in your ears.
18 Lo! I pray you, I have set forth in order a plea, I know that, I, shall be found right.
Behold, now that I have prepared my case, I know that I will be vindicated.
19 Who is it that shall contend with me? For, now, if I should hold my peace, why! I should breathe my last!
Can anyone indict me? If so, I will be silent and die.
20 Only, two things, do thou not with me, then, from thy face, will I not hide me: —
Only grant these two things to me, so that I need not hide from You:
21 Thy hand—from off me, take thou far away, and, thy terror, let it not startle me!
Withdraw Your hand from me, and do not let Your terror frighten me.
22 Then call thou, and, I, will answer, Or I will speak, and reply thou unto me.
Then call me, and I will answer, or let me speak, and You can reply.
23 How many are mine iniquities and sins? My transgression and my sin, let me know!
How many are my iniquities and sins? Reveal to me my transgression and sin.
24 Wherefore, thy face, shouldst thou hide? Or count me, as an enemy to thee?
Why do You hide Your face and consider me as Your enemy?
25 A driven leaf, wilt thou cause to tremble? Or, dry stubble, wilt thou pursue?
Would You frighten a windblown leaf? Would You chase after dry chaff?
26 For thou writest, against me, bitter things, and dost make me inherit the iniquities of my youth;
For You record bitter accusations against me and bequeath to me the iniquities of my youth.
27 And thou dost put—in the stocks—my feet, and observest all my paths, Against the roots of my feet, thou dost cut out a bound;
You put my feet in the stocks and stand watch over all my paths; You set a limit for the soles of my feet.
28 And, a man himself, as a rotten thing, weareth out, as a garment which the moth hath eaten.
So man wastes away like something rotten, like a moth-eaten garment.
