Job 13

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

See, my eye has seen all this; my ear has heard and understood it.

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

What you know, the same I also know; I am not inferior to you.

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

However, I would rather speak with the Almighty; I wish to reason with God.

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

But you whitewash the truth with lies; you are all physicians of no value.

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

Oh, that you would altogether hold your peace! That would be your wisdom.

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

Hear now my own reasoning; listen to the pleading of my own lips.

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

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

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

Will you show him partiality? Will you argue the case for God?

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

Will it be good for you when he searches you out? Could you deceive him as you might deceive men?

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

He would surely reprove you if in secret you showed partiality.

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

Will not his majesty terrify you, and the dread of him fall upon you?

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

Your memorable sayings are proverbs made of ashes; your defenses are defenses made of clay.

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

Hold your peace, let me alone, so that I may speak, let come what may on me.

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

I will take my own flesh in my teeth; I will take my life in my hands.

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

See, if he kills me, I will have no hope left; nevertheless, I will defend my ways before him.

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

This will be the reason for my deliverance, for no godless person would come before him.

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

God, listen carefully to my speech; let my declaration come to your ears.

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

See now, I have set my defense in order; I know that I am innocent.

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

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.

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

God, do only two things for me, and then I will not hide myself from your face:

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

withdraw your oppressive hand from me, and do not let your terrors make me afraid.

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

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

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

How many are my iniquities and sins? Let me know my transgression and my sin.

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

Why do you hide your face from me and treat me like your enemy?

25 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?

Will you persecute a driven leaf? Will you pursue dry stubble?

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

For you write down bitter things against me; you make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.

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

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

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

although I am like a rotten thing that wastes away, like a garment that moths have eaten.