Job 13
1 “Behold, my eye has seen all this. My ear has heard and understood it.
“Indeed, my eyes have seen all this; my ears have heard and understood.
2 What you know, I know also. I am not inferior to you.
What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you.
3 “Surely I would speak to the Almighty. I desire to reason with God.
Yet I desire to speak to the Almighty and argue my case before God.
4 But you are forgers of lies. You are all physicians of no value.
You, however, smear with lies; you are all worthless physicians.
5 Oh that you would be completely silent! Then you would be wise.
If only you would remain silent; for that would be your wisdom!
6 Hear now my reasoning. Listen to the pleadings of my lips.
Hear now my argument, and listen to the plea of my lips.
7 Will you speak unrighteously for God, and talk deceitfully for him?
Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf or speak deceitfully for Him?
8 Will you show partiality to him? Will you contend for God?
Would you show Him partiality or argue in His defense?
9 Is it good that he should search you out? Or as one deceives a man, will you deceive him?
Would it be well when He examined you? Could you deceive Him like a man?
10 He will surely reprove you if you secretly show partiality.
Surely He would rebuke you if you secretly showed partiality.
11 Won’t his majesty make you afraid and his dread fall on you?
Would His majesty not terrify you? Would the dread of Him not fall upon you?
12 Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes. Your defenses are defenses of clay.
Your maxims 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 silent, and I will speak. Then let come to me what may.
14 Why should I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand?
Why do I put myself at risk and take my life in my own hands?
15 Behold, he will kill me. I have no hope. Nevertheless, I will maintain my ways before him.
Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. I will still defend my ways to His face.
16 This also will be my salvation, that a godless man will not come before him.
Moreover, this will be my salvation, for no godless man can appear before Him.
17 Listen carefully to my speech. Let my declaration be in your ears.
Listen carefully to my words; let my declaration ring in your ears.
18 See now, I have set my cause in order. I know that I am righteous.
Behold, now that I have prepared my case, I know that I will be vindicated.
19 Who is he who will contend with me? For then would I hold my peace and give up the spirit.
Can anyone indict me? If so, I will be silent and die.
20 “Only don’t do two things to me, then I will not hide myself from your face:
Only grant these two things to me, so that I need not hide from You:
21 withdraw your hand far from me, and don’t let your terror make me afraid.
Withdraw Your hand from me, and do not let Your terror frighten me.
22 Then call, and I will answer, or let me speak, and you answer me.
Then call me, and I will answer, or let me speak, and You can reply.
23 How many are my iniquities and sins? Make me know my disobedience and my sin.
How many are my iniquities and sins? Reveal to me my transgression and sin.
24 Why do you hide your face, and consider me your enemy?
Why do You hide Your face and consider me as Your enemy?
25 Will you harass a driven leaf? Will you pursue the dry stubble?
Would You frighten a windblown leaf? Would You chase after dry chaff?
26 For you write bitter things against me, and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.
For You record bitter accusations against me and bequeath to me 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,
You put my feet in the stocks and stand watch over all my paths; You set a limit for the soles of my feet.
28 though I am decaying like a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten.
So man wastes away like something rotten, like a moth-eaten garment.
