Job 13

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

“Behold, 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, I know also. I am not inferior to you.

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

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

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

But you are forgers of 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 be completely silent! Then you would be wise.

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

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

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

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

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

Will you show partiality to him? Will you contend 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,

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

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

He will surely reprove you if you secretly show partiality.

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

Will not his majesty make you afraid and his dread fall on 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 of ashes. Your defenses are defenses of clay.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

withdraw your hand far from me, and do not let your terror 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, and I will answer, or let me speak, 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? Make me know my disobedience and my sin.

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

Why do you hide your face, and consider me 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 harass a driven leaf? Will you pursue the 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 bitter things against me, and 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, and mark all my paths. You set a bound to the soles of my feet,

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

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