Job 13

1 Lo, my eye hath seen all this, my ear hath heard and understood it.

Truly, my eye has seen all this, word of it has come to my ear, and I have knowledge of it.

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

The same things are in my mind as in yours; I am equal to you.

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

But I would have talk with the Ruler of all, and my desire is to have an argument with God.

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

But you put a false face on things; all your attempts to put things right are of no value.

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

If only you would keep quiet, it would be a sign of wisdom!

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

Give ear to the argument of my mouth, and take note of the words of my lips.

7 Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?

Will you say in God's name what is not right, and put false words into his mouth?

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

Will you have respect for God's person in this cause, and put yourselves forward as his supporters?

9 Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him?

Will it be good for you to be searched out by him, or have you the thought that he may be guided into error like a man?

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

He will certainly put you right, if you have respect for persons in secret.

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

Will not his glory put you in fear, so that your hearts will be overcome before him?

12 Your remembrances are like ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.

Your wise sayings are only dust, and your strong places are only earth.

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

Keep quiet, and let me say what is in my mind, whatever may come to me.

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

I will take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand.

15 Though he shall slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will defend my own ways before him.

Truly, he will put an end to me; I have no hope; but I will not give way in argument before him;

16 He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.

And that will be my salvation, for an evil-doer would not come before him,

17 Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.

Give ear with care to my words, and keep what I say in your minds.

18 Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.

See now, I have put my cause in order, and I am certain that I will be seen to be right.

19 Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.

Is any one able to take up the argument against me? If so, I would keep quiet and give up my breath.

20 Only do not two things to me: then will I not hide myself from thee.

Only two things do not do to me, then I will come before your face:

21 Withdraw thy hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid.

Take your hand far away from me; and let me not be overcome by fear of you.

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

Then at the sound of your voice I will give answer; or let me put forward my cause for you to give me an answer.

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

What is the number of my evil-doings and my sins? give me knowledge of them.

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

Why is your face veiled from me, as if I was numbered among your haters?

25 Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?

Will you be hard on a leaf in flight before the wind? will you make a dry stem go more quickly on its way?

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

For you put bitter things on record against me, and send punishment on me for the sins of my early years;

27 Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and observest carefully all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet.

And you put chains on my feet, watching all my ways, and making a limit for my steps;

28 And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth eaten.

Though a man comes to nothing like a bit of dead wood, or like a robe which has become food for the worm.