Job 13
1 Lo! all [this], hath mine own eye seen, —Mine ear hath heard and understood it:
Behold, my eye has seen all these things, and my ear has heard, and I have understood each one.
2 Just as ye know, I too, know, I, fall not short, of you.
In conformity with your knowledge, 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 speak this way to the Almighty, and I desire to argue with God,
4 For, in truth, ye, do besmear with falsehood, Worthless physicians, all of you!
having first shown that you fabricate lies and cultivate perverse teachings.
5 Oh that ye would, altogether hold your peace, and it should serve you for wisdom!
And I wish that you would remain silent, so that you would be counted among the wise.
6 Hear, I pray you, the argument of my mouth, and, to the pleadings of my lips, give heed: —
Therefore, listen to my correction, and pay attention to the judgment of my lips.
7 Is it, for God, ye would speak perversely? And, for him, would ye speak deceit:
Does God require your lie, so that you would speak deceitfully for him?
8 Even, for him, would ye be partial? Or, for GOD, would ye [so] plead?
Have you taken his place, and do you struggle to give judgment in favor of God?
9 Would it be well, when he searched you out? Or, as one might jest with a mortal, would ye jest, with him?
Or, will it please him, from whom nothing can be concealed? Or, will he be deceived, like a man, by your deceitfulness?
10 He will, severely rebuke, you, if ye are secretly partial.
He will accuse you because in secret you have preempted his presence.
11 Shall not, his majesty, overwhelm you? and, the dread of him, fall upon you?
As soon as he moves himself, he will disturb you, and his dread will fall over you.
12 Are not your memorable sayings, proverbs of ashes? Breastworks of clay, your breastworks?
Your remembrance will be compared to ashes, and your necks will be reduced to clay.
13 Quietly let me alone, that, I, may speak out, then let come on me, what may.
Be silent for a little while, so that I may speak whatever my mind suggests to me.
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 wound my flesh with my teeth, and carry my soul in my 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:
And now, if he would kill me, I will hope in him; in this, truly, I will correct my ways in his sight.
16 Even he, will be on my side—unto salvation, For, not before his face, shall any impious person come.
And he will be my savior, for no hypocrite at all will approach in his sight.
17 Hear ye patiently my speech, and be my declaration in your ears.
Listen to my words, and perceive an enigma with your ears.
18 Lo! I pray you, I have set forth in order a plea, I know that, I, shall be found right.
If I will be judged, I know that I will be found to be just.
19 Who is it that shall contend with me? For, now, if I should hold my peace, why! I should breathe my last!
Who is it that will go to judgment with me? Let him approach. Why should I be consumed in silence?
20 Only, two things, do thou not with me, then, from thy face, will I not hide me: —
Do not do such things to me twice, and then I will not hide from your face.
21 Thy hand—from off me, take thou far away, and, thy terror, let it not startle me!
Take your hand far away from me, and do not let your dread terrify me.
22 Then call thou, and, I, will answer, Or I will speak, and reply thou unto me.
Call me, and I will answer you, or else I will speak, and you can answer me.
23 How many are mine iniquities and sins? My transgression and my sin, let me know!
How many iniquities and sins do I have? Reveal my crimes and offenses to me.
24 Wherefore, thy face, shouldst thou hide? Or count me, as an enemy to thee?
Why do you conceal your face and consider me to be your enemy?
25 A driven leaf, wilt thou cause to tremble? Or, dry stubble, wilt thou pursue?
Against a leaf, which is carried away by the wind, you reveal your power, and you pursue dry straw.
26 For thou writest, against me, bitter things, and dost make me inherit the iniquities of my youth;
For you write bitter things against me, and you want to consume me for the sins 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 have put my feet on a tether, and you have observed all my paths, and you have considered the steps of my feet.
28 And, a man himself, as a rotten thing, weareth out, as a garment which the moth hath eaten.
I will be left to decay like something rotten and like a garment that is being eaten by moths.
