Job 13
1 "So ist's. So hat's mein Auge auch gesehen, mein Ohr vernommen und gemerkt.
“Hey, I [SYN] have seen everything [that you have seen], and I have heard and understood all [that you have said].
2 Soviel ihr wisset, weiß ich auch; ich falle gegen euch nicht ab.
What you know, I also know; I do (not know less than/know as much as) you.
3 Nun will ich mit dem Allerhöchsten reden; mit Gott zu rechten ich begehre.
But I would like to speak to Almighty God, [not to you]; I would like to argue with him [and prove that I (am innocent/have not done things that are wrong]).
4 Ihr freilich, ihr seid Lügenmeister, unnütze Ärzte insgesamt.
As for you, you do not allow people to know the truth about me, like someone covers [up a bad surface of a wall] with whitewash [MET]. You are all like doctors [MET] [that give people] useless [medicines].
5 Wenn ihr nur endlich schweigen wolltet und das für euch zur Weisheit würde!
I wish/desire that you would be silent; that would be the wisest thing that you [could do].
6 Auf meine Widerrede hört! Aufmerket auf den Vorwurf meiner Lippen!
Listen to what I will say to you now; listen while I am saying [what is true about myself].
7 Wollt ihr für Gott Verkehrtes reden und ihm zuliebe Lügen sprechen?
Are you telling lies about me to prove God [is just in causing me to suffer]? Are you saying what is deceitful in order to benefit him?
8 Wollt ihr für ihn Partei ergreifen, gar Anwalt sein für Gott?
Are you trying to defend him? Are you trying to prove [as you would] in a court that he is innocent?
9 Wenn er euch richtet, geht's dann gut? Wollt ihr ihn narren, wie man Menschen narrt?
If he looks closely, will he find that everything that you have done is good? Or can you deceive him, like you deceive other people?
10 Er gibt euch scharfen Tadel, wenn hinterrücks Partei ihr nehmet.
If you secretly say/do things to cause God to act favorably toward you, he will surely rebuke you.
11 Wird euch nicht seine Hoheit betäuben; befällt euch nicht sein Schrecken?
He will certainly [RHQ] cause you to be terrified by his power/greatness; you will become extremely afraid.
12 Zerstäubt sind euere Beweise, und euere Bekräftigungen sind gar tönern.
The things that you say [that you think are] wise are [as useless as] [MET] as ashes; what you say to defend your opinions is no better than [MET] clay [that quickly crumbles].
13 Vor mir nur schweigt! Denn ich muß reden. Es komme über mich, was wolle!
“So, be quiet and allow me to speak, and then it will not matter what happens to me.
14 Warum soll ich mein Fleisch in meine Zähne nehmen? Ich lege auf die flache Hand mein Leben.
I am ready to endure anything; I am [even] willing to risk being executed [IDM, DOU] [for what I will say].
15 Ja, mag er mich auch töten; ich zittere nicht davor; auf jeden Fall will ich vor ihm verteidigen meinen Wandel.
If God kills me, then I will not have anyone else whom I can confidently expect to help me, but I am going to defend my behavior in his presence [anyway].
16 Da muß er selber mir zum Sieg verhelfen; vor ihn kommt ja kein Ruchloser.
No wicked/godless person would dare to stand in the presence of God, [but because I say that I have not done things that are wrong], perhaps, if I can prove that to God, he will save me.”
17 Aufmerksam hört auf meine Rede! Ich will's euch selbst beweisen.
“God, listen very carefully to what I say [DOU].
18 Ich lege meinen Rechtsfall vor. Ich weiß gewiß, ich werd's gewinnen.
I am ready to prove that I am innocent, and I know that you also will declare that I am not guilty.
19 Kann einer etwas gegen mich beweisen, ich würde schweigend willig sterben.
I certainly do not think [RHQ] that [you or anyone else] will say that what I say is not true; if anyone did that, I would (be silent/stop talking) and die.
20 Nur zweierlei tu mir nicht an! Sonst muß ich mich vor Deinem Antlitz bergen:
“I am requesting you to do two things for me; if you do them, I will (not hide from you/come and stand in front of you) [LIT].
21 Stell Deine Macht vor mir beiseite! Und Deine Furchtbarkeit erschrecke nimmer mich!
[The first thing that I request is that you] stop punishing [IDM] me; and [the second thing that I request is that you] stop causing me to be very terrified.
22 Dann klage Du, und ich will mich verteidigen. Dann rede ich; Du aber widerlege mich!
You speak [first], and then I will reply; or allow me to speak first, and [then] you reply.
23 Wie groß ist meine Schuld und mein Vergehen? Mein ganzes Unrecht laß mich wissen!
What have I done that is wrong? What sins have I committed? Show me how I have disobeyed you.
24 Warum birgst Du Dein Angesicht, erachtest mich für Deinen Feind?
Why (do you refuse to be friendly with/have you abandoned) me [IDM]? Why do you (act toward me as though I am/consider me to be) your enemy?
25 Ein welkes Blatt, das schreckst Du auf. Dem dürren Strohhalm jagst Du nach.
I am [as insignificant as] [MET] a leaf that is blown by the wind; why are you trying to cause me to be afraid [RHQ]? Why are you pursuing me? Am I [useless, nothing more than a bit of] dry chaff [RHQ]?
26 Du rechnest mir Vergangenes auf und weisest mir die Jugendsünden nach.
[It seems that] you are writing things to accuse me [of doing things that are wrong], even recalling bad things that I did when I was young.
27 Du legst mir meine Füße in den Block, verwahrst mir alle Schritte; um meine Fußgelenke ziehst Du einen Ring. -
[It is as though] you have fastened my feet with chains [to prevent me from walking], and you watch me wherever I walk; [It is as though] you even look closely at my footprints [to see where I have gone].
28 Er aber gleicht dem Wurmfraß, der in Stücke fällt, und einem Kleid, an dem die Motte zehrt."
[As a result], my body is decaying like [SIM] rotten wood, like a piece of cloth that is eaten by [larvae of] moths.”
