Job 13

1 Lo, my eye hath seen all [this], my ear hath heard and understood it.

Behold, mine eye has seen these things, and mine ear has heard [them].

2 What ye know, [the same] do I know also: I [am] not inferior to you.

And I know all that ye too know; and I have not less understanding than you.

3 Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.

Nevertheless I will speak to the Lord, and I will reason before him, if he will.

4 But ye [are] forgers of lies, ye [are] all physicians of no value.

But ye are all bad physicians, and healers of diseases.

5 O that ye would altogether hold your peace and it would be your wisdom.

But would that ye were silent, and it would be wisdom to you in the end.

6 Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.

But hear ye the reasoning of my mouth, and attend to the judgment of my lips.

7 Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?

Do ye not speak before the Lord, and utter deceit before him?

8 Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God?

Or will ye draw back? nay do, ye yourselves be judges.

9 Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye [so] mock him?

For [it were] well if he would thoroughly search you: for though doing all things [in your power] ye should attach yourselves to him,

10 He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.

he will not reprove you at all the less: but if moreover ye should secretly respect persons,

11 Shall not his excellence make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you?

shall not his whirlpool sweep you round, and terror from him fall upon you?

12 Your remembrances [are] like to ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.

And your glorying shall prove in the end to you like ashes, and your body [like a body] of clay.

13 Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what [will].

Be silent, that I may speak, and cease from [mine] anger,

14 Why do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand?

while I may take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand.

15 Though he shall slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain my own ways before him.

Though the Mighty One should lay hand upon me, forasmuch as he has begun, verily I will speak, and plead before him.

16 He also [shall be] my salvation: for a hypocrite shall not come before him.

And this shall turn to me for salvation; for fraud shall have no entrance before him.

17 Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.

Hear, hear ye my words, for I will declare in your hearing.

18 Behold now, I have ordered [my] cause; I know that I shall be justified.

Behold, I am near my judgment: I know that I shall appear evidently just.

19 Who [is] he [that] will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall expire.

For who is he that shall plead with me, that I should now be silent, and expire?

20 Only do not two [things] to me: then will I not hide myself from thee.

But grant me two things: then I will not hide myself from thy face.

21 Withdraw thy hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid.

Withhold [thine] hand from me: and let not thy fear terrify me.

22 Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me.

Then shalt thou call, and I will hearken to thee: or thou shalt speak, and I will give thee an answer.

23 How many [are] my iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin.

How many are my sins and my transgressions? teach me what they are.

24 Why hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thy enemy?

Wherefore hidest thou thyself from me, and deemest me thine enemy?

25 Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?

Wilt thou be startled [at me], as [at] a leaf shaken by the wind? or wilt thou set thyself against me as against grass borne upon the breeze?

26 For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth.

for thou hast written evil things against me, and thou hast compassed me with the sins of my youth.

27 Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly to all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet.

And thou hast placed my foot in the stocks; and thou hast watched all my works, and hast penetrated my heels.

28 And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth-eaten.

[I am as] that which waxes old like a bottle, or like a moth-eaten garment.