Job 13

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

Lo, my eye has seen all this. My ear has heard and understood it.

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

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

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

Surely I would 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.

But ye are forgers of lies. Ye are all physicians of no value.

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

O that ye would altogether be silent! And it would be your wisdom.

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

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

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

Will ye speak unrighteously for God, and talk deceitfully for him?

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

Will ye show partiality to him? Will ye contend for God?

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

Is it good that he should search you out? Or as deceiving a man, will ye deceive him?

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

He will surely reprove you if ye secretly show partiality.

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

Shall not his majesty make you afraid, and his dread fall upon you?

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

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

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

Be quiet. Let me alone that I may speak, and let come on me what will.

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

Why should I 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.

Behold, he will kill me; I have no hope. Nevertheless I will maintain my ways before him.

16 This also will be my salvation, that a godless man will not come before him.

This also shall be my salvation, that a profane man shall not come before him.

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

Hear diligently my speech, and let my declaration be in your ears.

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

Behold now, I have set my case in order. I know that I am righteous.

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

Who is he who will contend with me? For then I would keep silent and give up the spirit.

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

Only do not do two things to me, then I will not hide myself from thy face:

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

Withdraw thy hand far from me, and do not let thy dread make me afraid.

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

Then call thou, and I will answer, or let me speak, and answer thou 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 to know my transgression and my sin.

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

Why do thou hide thy face, and reckon me for thine enemy?

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

Will thou harass a driven leaf? And will thou pursue the dry stubble?

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

For thou write bitter things against me, and make me to inherit the iniquities 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 also put my feet in the stocks, and mark all my paths. Thou set a bound to the soles of my feet.

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

Though I am like a rotten thing that decays, like a garment that is moth-eaten.