Job 13
1 Lo, all — hath mine eye seen, Heard hath mine ear, and it attendeth to it.
Look, I've seen all this with my own eyes, and heard it with my own ears, and I understand it.
2 According to your knowledge I have known — also I. I am not fallen more than you.
I know what you know. You're no better than me.
3 Yet I for the Mighty One do speak, And to argue for God I delight.
But I would still like to speak to the Almighty: I want to prove myself to God!
4 And yet, ye [are] forgers of falsehood, Physicians of nought — all of you,
As for you, you cover things up by telling lies! You are all like doctors who can't heal anyone!
5 O that ye would keep perfectly silent, And it would be to you for wisdom.
I wish you would all be quiet! That would be the wisest thing for you to do.
6 Hear, I pray you, my argument, And to the pleadings of my lips attend,
Listen to my argument and pay attention to what I have to say.
7 For God do ye speak perverseness? And for Him do ye speak deceit?
Do you think you can tell lies to defend God? Are you talking deceitfully on his behalf?
8 His face do ye accept, if for God ye strive?
Or are you wanting to show God favoritism? Are you going to argue God's case for him?
9 Is [it] good that He doth search you, If, as one mocketh at a man, ye mock at Him?
Will you be found to be doing good when God examines you? Can you fool him as if he's a human being?
10 He doth surely reprove you, if in secret ye accept faces.
No, he will definitely rebuke you if you secretly show him favoritism!
11 Doth not His excellency terrify you? And His dread fall upon you?
Isn't his majesty terrifying to you? Aren't you so afraid of him you're paralyzed?
12 Your remembrances [are] similes of ashes, For high places of clay your heights.
Your sayings are as helpful as ashes; your arguments as weak as clay.
13 Keep silent from me, and I speak, And pass over me doth what?
Be quiet. Don't talk to me. Let me speak, come what may.
14 Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth? And my soul put in my hand?
I take responsibility for myself; I am ready to risk my life.
15 Lo, He doth slay me — I wait not! Only, my ways unto His face I argue.
Even though he kills me, I will hope in him. I am still going to defend my ways before him.
16 Also — He [is] to me for salvation, For the profane cometh not before Him.
By doing this I will be saved since no godless person could come before him.
17 Hear ye diligently my word, And my declaration with your ears.
Listen carefully to what I say, pay attention to my explanation.
18 Lo, I pray you, I have set in order the cause, I have known that I am righteous.
Look, I've prepared my case—I know I will be proved right.
19 Who [is] he that doth strive with me? For now I keep silent and gasp.
Who wants to argue with me? If I'm proved wrong, I'm prepared to be quiet and die.
20 Only two things, O God, do with me: Then from Thy face I am not hidden.
God, I have two requests, then I can face you.
21 Thy hand put far off from me, And Thy terror let not terrify me.
Stop beating me, and stop terrifying me.
22 And call Thou, and I — I answer, Or — I speak, and answer Thou me.
Then call, and I will answer. Or let me speak, and then answer me.
23 How many iniquities and sins have I? My transgression and my sin let me know.
What are my sins and iniquities? Show me what have I done wrong; how have I rebelled against you?
24 Why dost Thou hide Thy face? And reckonest me for an enemy to Thee?
Why are you unfriendly towards me? Why do you treat me as your enemy?
25 A leaf driven away dost Thou terrify? And the dry stubble dost Thou pursue?
Would you frighten a leaf blown by the wind or hunt down a piece of straw?
26 For Thou writest against me bitter things, And causest me to possess iniquities of my youth:
For you write down bitter things against me and pay me back for the sins of my youth.
27 And puttest in the stocks my feet, And observest all my paths, On the roots of my feet Thou settest a print,
You put my feet in the stocks. You keep an eye on every step I take. You even inspect my footprints!
28 And he, as a rotten thing, weareth away, As a garment hath a moth consumed him.
I'm falling apart like something rotten, like moth-eaten clothes.
