Job 13

1 “Behold, my eye has seen all this. My ear has heard and understood it.

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

2 What you know, I know also. I am not inferior to you.

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

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

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

4 But you are forgers of lies. You are all physicians of no value.

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

5 Oh that you would be completely silent! Then you would be wise.

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

6 Hear now my reasoning. Listen to the pleadings of my lips.

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

7 Will you speak unrighteously for God, and talk deceitfully for him?

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

8 Will you show partiality to him? Will you contend for God?

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

9 Is it good that he should search you out? Or as one deceives a man, will you deceive him?

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

10 He will surely reprove you if you secretly show partiality.

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

11 Won’t his majesty make you afraid and his dread fall on you?

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

12 Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes. Your defenses are defenses of clay.

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

13 “Be silent! Leave me alone, that I may speak. Let come on me what will.

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

14 Why should 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 Behold, he will kill me. I have no hope. Nevertheless, I will maintain my 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 This also will be my salvation, that a godless man will not come before him.

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

17 Listen carefully to my speech. Let my declaration be in your ears.

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

18 See now, I have set my cause in order. I know that I am righteous.

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

19 Who is he who will contend with me? For then would I hold my peace and give up the spirit.

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

20 “Only don’t do two things to me, then I will not hide myself from your face:

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

21 withdraw your hand far from me, and don’t let your terror make me afraid.

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

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

Then shall you call, and I will listen to you: or you shall speak, and I will give you an answer.

23 How many are my iniquities and sins? Make me know my disobedience and my sin.

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

24 Why do you hide your face, and consider me your enemy?

Therefore hide you yourself from me, and deem me your enemy?

25 Will you harass a driven leaf? Will you pursue the dry stubble?

Will you be startled [at me], as [at] a leaf shaken by the wind? or will you set yourself against me as against grass borne upon the breeze?

26 For you write bitter things against me, and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.

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

27 You also put my feet in the stocks, and mark all my paths. You set a bound to the soles of my feet,

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

28 though I am decaying like a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten.

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