Job 13
1 “Hey, I [SYN] have seen everything [that you have seen], and I have heard and understood all [that you have said].
Lo! all [this], hath mine own eye seen, —Mine ear hath heard and understood it:
2 What you know, I also know; I do (not know less than/know as much as) you.
Just as ye know, I too, know, I, fall not short, of 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]).
But indeed, I, unto the Almighty, would speak, and, to direct my argument unto GOD, would I be well pleased.
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].
For, in truth, ye, do besmear with falsehood, Worthless physicians, all of you!
5 I wish/desire that you would be silent; that would be the wisest thing that you [could do].
Oh that ye would, altogether hold your peace, and it should serve you for wisdom!
6 Listen to what I will say to you now; listen while I am saying [what is true about myself].
Hear, I pray you, the argument of my mouth, and, to the pleadings of my lips, give heed: —
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?
Is it, for God, ye would speak perversely? And, for him, would ye speak deceit:
8 Are you trying to defend him? Are you trying to prove [as you would] in a court that he is innocent?
Even, for him, would ye be partial? Or, for GOD, would ye [so] plead?
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 searched you out? Or, as one might jest with a mortal, would ye jest, with him?
10 If you secretly say/do things to cause God to act favorably toward you, he will surely rebuke you.
He will, severely rebuke, you, if ye are secretly partial.
11 He will certainly [RHQ] cause you to be terrified by his power/greatness; you will become extremely afraid.
Shall not, his majesty, overwhelm you? and, the dread of him, 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].
Are not your memorable sayings, proverbs of ashes? Breastworks of clay, your breastworks?
13 “So, be quiet and allow me to speak, and then it will not matter what happens to me.
Quietly let me alone, that, I, may speak out, then let come on 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].
In any case, I will take up my flesh in my teeth, and, my life, will I put in my hand:
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].
Lo! he may slay me, [yet], for him, will I wait, —Nevertheless, my ways—unto his face, will I show to be right:
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.”
Even he, will be on my side—unto salvation, For, not before his face, shall any impious person come.
17 “God, listen very carefully to what I say [DOU].
Hear ye patiently my speech, and be my declaration 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.
Lo! I pray you, I have set forth in order a plea, I know that, I, shall be found right.
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.
Who is it that shall contend with me? For, now, if I should hold my peace, why! I should breathe my last!
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, two things, do thou not with me, then, from thy face, will I not hide me: —
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.
Thy hand—from off me, take thou far away, and, thy terror, let it not startle me!
22 You speak [first], and then I will reply; or allow me to speak first, and [then] you reply.
Then call thou, and, I, will answer, Or I will speak, and reply thou unto me.
23 What have I done that is wrong? What sins have I committed? Show me how I have disobeyed you.
How many are mine iniquities and sins? My transgression and my sin, let me know!
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?
Wherefore, thy face, shouldst thou hide? Or count me, as an enemy to thee?
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]?
A driven leaf, wilt thou cause to tremble? Or, dry stubble, wilt thou pursue?
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 thou writest, against me, bitter things, and dost make me inherit 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].
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;
28 [As a result], my body is decaying like [SIM] rotten wood, like a piece of cloth that is eaten by [larvae of] moths.”
And, a man himself, as a rotten thing, weareth out, as a garment which the moth hath eaten.
