Job 13

1 Lo, mine eye hath seen all [this], mine ear hath heard and understood it.

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

2 What ye know, [the same] do I know also: I am not inferior unto you.

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

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

"Surely I would speak to Shaddai. I desire to reason with God.

4 But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.

But you are forgers of lies. You are all physicians of no value.

5 Oh that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.

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

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

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

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

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

8 Will ye respect his person? will ye contend for God?

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

9 Is it good that he should search you out? or as one deceiveth a man, will ye deceive him?

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

10 He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly respect persons.

He will surely reprove you if you secretly show partiality.

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

Shall not his majesty make you afraid, And his dread fall on you?

12 Your memorable sayings [are] proverbs of ashes, your defences [are] defences of clay.

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

13 Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what wilt.

"Be silent, leave me alone, that I may speak. Let come on me what will.

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

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

15 Though he slay me, yet will I wait for him: nevertheless I will maintain my ways before him.

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

16 This also shall be my salvation; for a godless man shall not come before him.

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

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

Hear diligently my speech. Let my declaration be in your ears.

18 Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I am righteous.

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

19 Who is he that will contend with me? for now shall I hold my peace and give up the ghost.

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

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

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

21 Withdraw thine hand far from me; and let not thy terror make me afraid.

withdraw your hand far from me; and do not let your terror make me afraid.

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

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

23 How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin.

How many are my iniquities and sins? Make me know my disobedience and my sin.

24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy?

Why hide you your face, and hold me for your enemy?

25 Wilt thou harass a driven leaf? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?

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

26 For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to inherit the iniquities of my youth:

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

27 Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and markest all my paths; thou drawest thee a line about the soles of my feet:

You also put my feet in the stocks, and mark all my paths. You set a bound to the soles of my feet,

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

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