Job 13

1 “Hey, I [SYN] have seen everything [that you have seen], and I have heard and understood all [that you have said].

2 What you know, I also know; I do (not know less than/know as much as) you.

3 But I would like to speak to Almighty God, [not to you]; I would like to argue with him [and prove that I (am innocent/have not done things that are wrong]).

4 As for you, you do not allow people to know the truth about me, like someone covers [up a bad surface of a wall] with whitewash [MET]. You are all like doctors [MET] [that give people] useless [medicines].

5 I wish/desire that you would be silent; that would be the wisest thing that you [could do].

6 Listen to what I will say to you now; listen while I am saying [what is true about myself].

7 Are you telling lies about me to prove God [is just in causing me to suffer]? Are you saying what is deceitful in order to benefit him?

8 Are you trying to defend him? Are you trying to prove [as you would] in a court that he is innocent?

9 If he looks closely, will he find that everything that you have done is good? Or can you deceive him, like you deceive other people?

10 If you secretly say/do things to cause God to act favorably toward you, he will surely rebuke you.

11 He will certainly [RHQ] cause you to be terrified by his power/greatness; you will become extremely afraid.

12 The things that you say [that you think are] wise are [as useless as] [MET] as ashes; what you say to defend your opinions is no better than [MET] clay [that quickly crumbles].

13 “So, be quiet and allow me to speak, and then it will not matter what happens to me.

14 I am ready to endure anything; I am [even] willing to risk being executed [IDM, DOU] [for what I will say].

15 If God kills me, then I will not have anyone else whom I can confidently expect to help me, but I am going to defend my behavior in his presence [anyway].

16 No wicked/godless person would dare to stand in the presence of God, [but because I say that I have not done things that are wrong], perhaps, if I can prove that to God, he will save me.”

17 “God, listen very carefully to what I say [DOU].

18 I am ready to prove that I am innocent, and I know that you also will declare that I am not guilty.

19 I certainly do not think [RHQ] that [you or anyone else] will say that what I say is not true; if anyone did that, I would (be silent/stop talking) and die.

20 “I am requesting you to do two things for me; if you do them, I will (not hide from you/come and stand in front of you) [LIT].

21 [The first thing that I request is that you] stop punishing [IDM] me; and [the second thing that I request is that you] stop causing me to be very terrified.

22 You speak [first], and then I will reply; or allow me to speak first, and [then] you reply.

23 What have I done that is wrong? What sins have I committed? Show me how I have disobeyed you.

24 Why (do you refuse to be friendly with/have you abandoned) me [IDM]? Why do you (act toward me as though I am/consider me to be) your enemy?

25 I am [as insignificant as] [MET] a leaf that is blown by the wind; why are you trying to cause me to be afraid [RHQ]? Why are you pursuing me? Am I [useless, nothing more than a bit of] dry chaff [RHQ]?

26 [It seems that] you are writing things to accuse me [of doing things that are wrong], even recalling bad things that I did when I was young.

27 [It is as though] you have fastened my feet with chains [to prevent me from walking], and you watch me wherever I walk; [It is as though] you even look closely at my footprints [to see where I have gone].

28 [As a result], my body is decaying like [SIM] rotten wood, like a piece of cloth that is eaten by [larvae of] moths.”