Job 13
1 See, my eye has seen all this; my ear has heard and understood it.
“Indeed, my eyes have seen all this; my ears have heard and understood.
2 What you know, the same I also know; I am not inferior to you.
What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you.
3 However, I would rather speak with the Almighty; I wish to reason with God.
Yet I desire to speak to the Almighty and argue my case before God.
4 But you whitewash the truth with lies; you are all physicians of no value.
You, however, smear with lies; you are all worthless physicians.
5 Oh, that you would altogether hold your peace! That would be your wisdom.
If only you would remain silent; for that would be your wisdom!
6 Hear now my own reasoning; listen to the pleading of my own lips.
Hear now my argument, and listen to the plea of my lips.
7 Will you speak unrighteously for God, and will you talk deceitfully for him?
Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf or speak deceitfully for Him?
8 Will you show him partiality? Will you argue the case for God?
Would you show Him partiality or argue in His defense?
9 Will it be good for you when he searches you out? Could you deceive him as you might deceive men?
Would it be well when He examined you? Could you deceive Him like a man?
10 He would surely reprove you if in secret you showed partiality.
Surely He would rebuke you if you secretly showed partiality.
11 Will not his majesty terrify 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 Your memorable sayings are proverbs made of ashes; your defenses are defenses made of clay.
Your maxims are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay.
13 Hold your peace, let me alone, so that I may speak, let come what may on me.
Be silent, and I will speak. Then let come to me what may.
14 I will take my own flesh in my teeth; I will take my life in my hands.
Why do I put myself at risk and take my life in my own hands?
15 See, if he kills me, I will have no hope left; nevertheless, I will defend my ways before him.
Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. I will still defend my ways to His face.
16 This will be the reason for my deliverance, for no godless person would come before him.
Moreover, this will be my salvation, for no godless man can appear before Him.
17 God, listen carefully to my speech; let my declaration come to your ears.
Listen carefully to my words; let my declaration ring in your ears.
18 See now, I have set my defense in order; I know that I am innocent.
Behold, now that I have prepared my case, I know that I will be vindicated.
19 Who is the one who would argue against me in court? If you came to do so, and if I were proved wrong, then I would be silent and give up my life.
Can anyone indict me? If so, I will be silent and die.
20 God, do only two things for me, and then I will not hide myself from your face:
Only grant these two things to me, so that I need not hide from You:
21 withdraw your oppressive hand from me, and do not let your terrors make me afraid.
Withdraw Your hand from me, and do not let Your terror frighten me.
22 Then call me, and I will answer; or let me speak to you, and you answer me.
Then call me, and I will answer, or let me speak, and You can reply.
23 How many are my iniquities and sins? Let me know my transgression and my sin.
How many are my iniquities and sins? Reveal to me my transgression and sin.
24 Why do you hide your face from me and treat me like your enemy?
Why do You hide Your face and consider me as Your enemy?
25 Will you persecute a driven leaf? Will you pursue dry stubble?
Would You frighten a windblown leaf? Would You chase after dry chaff?
26 For you write down bitter things against me; you 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 You also put my feet in the stocks; you closely watch all my paths; you examine the ground where the soles of my feet have walked
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 although I am like a rotten thing that wastes away, like a garment that moths have eaten.
So man wastes away like something rotten, like a moth-eaten garment.
