Job 13
1 “Behold, my eye has seen all this. My ear has heard and understood it.
Behold my eye hath seen all these things, and my ear hath heard them, and I have understood them all.
2 What you know, I know also. I am not inferior to you.
According to your knowledge I also know: neither am I inferior to you.
3 “Surely I would speak to the Almighty. I desire to reason with God.
But yet I will speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.
4 But you are forgers of lies. You are all physicians of no value.
Having first shewn that you are forgers of lies, and maintainers of perverse opinions.
5 Oh that you would be completely silent! Then you would be wise.
And I wish you would hold your peace, that you might be thought to be wise men.
6 Hear now my reasoning. Listen to the pleadings of my lips.
Hear ye therefore my reproof, and attend to the judgment of my lips.
7 Will you speak unrighteously for God, and talk deceitfully for him?
Hath God any need of your lie, that you should speak deceitfully for him?
8 Will you show partiality to him? Will you contend for God?
Do you accept his person, and do you endeavour to judge for God?
9 Is it good that he should search you out? Or as one deceives a man, will you deceive him?
Or shall it please him, from whom nothing can be concealed? or shall he be deceived as a man, with your deceitful dealings?
10 He will surely reprove you if you secretly show partiality.
He shall reprove you, because in secret you accept his person.
11 Won’t his majesty make you afraid and his dread fall on you?
As soon as he shall move himself, he shall trouble you: and his dread shall fall upon you.
12 Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes. Your defences are defences of clay.
Your remembrance shall be compared to ashes, and your necks shall be brought to clay.
13 “Be silent! Leave me alone, that I may speak. Let come on me what will.
Hold your peace a little while, that I may speak whatsoever my mind shall suggest to me.
14 Why should I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand?
Why do I tear my flesh with my teeth, and carry my soul in my hands?
15 Behold, he will kill me. I have no hope. Nevertheless, I will maintain my ways before him.
Although he should bill me, I will trust in him: but yet I will reprove my ways in his sight.
16 This also will be my salvation, that a godless man will not come before him.
And he shall be my saviour: for no hypocrite shall come before his presence.
17 Listen carefully to my speech. Let my declaration be in your ears.
Hear ye my speech, and receive with Sour ears hidden truths.
18 See now, I have set my cause in order. I know that I am righteous.
If I shall be judged, I know that I shall be found just.
19 Who is he who will contend with me? For then would I hold my peace and give up the spirit.
Who is he that will plead against me? let him come: why am I consumed holding my peace?
20 “Only don’t do two things to me, then I will not hide myself from your face:
Two things only do not to me, and then from thy face I shall not be hid:
21 withdraw your hand far from me, and don’t let your terror make me afraid.
Withdraw thy hand far from me, and let not thy dread terrify me.
22 Then call, and I will answer, or let me speak, and you answer me.
Call me, and I will answer thee: or else I will speak, and do thou answer me.
23 How many are my iniquities and sins? Make me know my disobedience and my sin.
How many are my iniquities and sins? make me know my crimes and offences.
24 Why do you hide your face, and consider me your enemy?
Why hidest thou thy face, and thinkest me thy enemy?
25 Will you harass a driven leaf? Will you pursue the dry stubble?
Against a leaf, that is carried away with the wind, thou shewest thy power, and thou pursuest a dry straw.
26 For you write bitter things against me, and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.
For thou writest bitter things against me, and wilt consume me for 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,
Thou hast put my feet in the stocks, and hast observed all my paths, and hast considered the steps of my feet:
28 though I am decaying like a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten.
Who am to be consumed as rottenness, and as a garment that is moth-eaten.
