Job 13
1 See, my eye has seen all this; my ear has heard and understood it.
"Look, my eye has seen all this. My ear has heard and understood it.
2 What you know, the same I also know; I am not inferior to you.
What you know, I know also. I am not inferior to you.
3 However, I would rather speak with the Almighty; I wish to reason with God.
"Surely I would speak to Shaddai. I desire to reason with God.
4 But you whitewash the truth with lies; you are all physicians of no value.
But you are forgers of lies. You are all physicians of no value.
5 Oh, that you would altogether hold your peace! That would be your wisdom.
Oh that you would be completely silent. Then you would be wise.
6 Hear now my own reasoning; listen to the pleading of my own lips.
Hear now my reasoning. Listen to the pleadings of my lips.
7 Will you speak unrighteously for God, and will you talk deceitfully for him?
Will you speak unrighteously for God, and talk deceitfully for him?
8 Will you show him partiality? Will you argue the case for God?
Will you show partiality to him? Will you contend for God?
9 Will it be good for you when he searches you out? Could you deceive him as you might deceive men?
Is it good that he should search you out? Or as one deceives a man, will you deceive him?
10 He would surely reprove you if in secret you showed partiality.
He will surely reprove you if you secretly show partiality.
11 Will not his majesty terrify you, and the dread of him fall upon you?
Shall not his majesty make you afraid, And his dread fall on you?
12 Your memorable sayings are proverbs made of ashes; your defenses are defenses made of clay.
Your memorable sayings 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, leave me alone, that I may speak. Let come on me what will.
14 I will take my own flesh in my teeth; I will take my life in my hands.
Why should I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand?
15 See, if he kills me, I will have no hope left; nevertheless, I will defend my ways before him.
Look, he will kill me. I have no hope. Nevertheless, I will maintain my ways before him.
16 This will be the reason for my deliverance, for no godless person would come before him.
This also shall be my salvation, that a godless man shall not come before him.
17 God, listen carefully to my speech; let my declaration come to your ears.
Hear diligently my speech. Let my declaration be in your ears.
18 See now, I have set my defense in order; I know that I am innocent.
See now, I have set my cause in order. I know that I am righteous.
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.
Who is he who will contend with me? For then would I hold my peace and give up the spirit.
20 God, do only two things for me, and then I will not hide myself from your face:
"Only do not do two things to me; then I will not hide myself from your face:
21 withdraw your oppressive hand from me, and do not let your terrors make me afraid.
withdraw your hand far from me; and do not let your terror make me afraid.
22 Then call me, and I will answer; or let me speak to you, and you answer me.
Then call, and I will answer; or let me speak, and you answer me.
23 How many are my iniquities and sins? Let me know my transgression and my sin.
How many are my iniquities and sins? Make me know my disobedience and my sin.
24 Why do you hide your face from me and treat me like your enemy?
Why hide you your face, and hold me for your enemy?
25 Will you persecute a driven leaf? Will you pursue dry stubble?
Will you harass a driven leaf? Will you pursue the dry stubble?
26 For you write down bitter things against me; you make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.
For you write bitter things against me, and make me inherit 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 also put my feet in the stocks, and mark all my paths. You set a bound to the soles of my feet,
28 although I am like a rotten thing that wastes away, like a garment that moths have eaten.
though I am decaying like a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten.
