Job 13
1 “Hey, I [SYN] have seen everything [that you have seen], and I have heard and understood all [that you have said].
“Indeed, my eyes have seen all this; my ears have heard and understood.
2 What you know, I also know; I do (not know less than/know as much as) you.
What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to 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]).
Yet I desire to speak to the Almighty and argue my case before God.
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].
You, however, smear with lies; you are all worthless physicians.
5 I wish/desire that you would be silent; that would be the wisest thing that you [could do].
If only you would remain silent; for that would be your wisdom!
6 Listen to what I will say to you now; listen while I am saying [what is true about myself].
Hear now my argument, and listen to the plea of my lips.
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?
Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf or speak deceitfully for Him?
8 Are you trying to defend him? Are you trying to prove [as you would] in a court that he is innocent?
Would you show Him partiality or argue in His defense?
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?
Would it be well when He examined you? Could you deceive Him like a man?
10 If you secretly say/do things to cause God to act favorably toward you, he will surely rebuke you.
Surely He would rebuke you if you secretly showed partiality.
11 He will certainly [RHQ] cause you to be terrified by his power/greatness; you will become extremely afraid.
Would His majesty not terrify you? Would the dread of Him not fall upon you?
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].
Your maxims are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay.
13 “So, be quiet and allow me to speak, and then it will not matter what happens to me.
Be silent, and I will speak. Then let come to me what may.
14 I am ready to endure anything; I am [even] willing to risk being executed [IDM, DOU] [for what I will say].
Why do I put myself at risk and take my life in my own hands?
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].
Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. I will still defend my ways to His face.
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.”
Moreover, this will be my salvation, for no godless man can appear before Him.
17 “God, listen very carefully to what I say [DOU].
Listen carefully to my words; let my declaration ring in your ears.
18 I am ready to prove that I am innocent, and I know that you also will declare that I am not guilty.
Behold, now that I have prepared my case, I know that I will be vindicated.
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.
Can anyone indict me? If so, I will be silent 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].
Only grant these two things to me, so that I need not hide from You:
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.
Withdraw Your hand from me, and do not let Your terror frighten me.
22 You speak [first], and then I will reply; or allow me to speak first, and [then] you reply.
Then call me, and I will answer, or let me speak, and You can reply.
23 What have I done that is wrong? What sins have I committed? Show me how I have disobeyed you.
How many are my iniquities and sins? Reveal to me my transgression and sin.
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?
Why do You hide Your face and consider me as 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]?
Would You frighten a windblown leaf? Would You chase after dry chaff?
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.
For You record bitter accusations against me and bequeath to me the iniquities of my youth.
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].
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 [As a result], my body is decaying like [SIM] rotten wood, like a piece of cloth that is eaten by [larvae of] moths.”
So man wastes away like something rotten, like a moth-eaten garment.
