Job 13

1 “Indeed, my eyes have seen all this; my ears have heard and understood.

1 “Behold, my eye has seen all this. My ear has heard and understood it.

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

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

3 Yet I desire to speak to the Almighty and argue my case before God.

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

4 You, however, smear with lies; you are all worthless physicians.

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

5 If only you would remain silent; for that would be your wisdom!

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

6 Hear now my argument, and listen to the plea of my lips.

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

7 Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf or speak deceitfully for Him?

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

8 Would you show Him partiality or argue in His defense?

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

9 Would it be well when He examined you? Could you deceive Him as you would deceive a man?

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

10 Surely He would rebuke you if you secretly showed partiality.

10 He will surely reprove you if you secretly show partiality.

11 Would His majesty not terrify you? Would the dread of Him not fall upon you?

11 Won’t his majesty make you afraid and his dread fall on you?

12 Your maxims are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay.

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

13 Be silent, and I will speak. Then let come to me what may.

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

14 Why do I put myself at risk and take my life in my own hands?

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

15 Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. I will still defend my ways to His face.

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

16 Moreover, this will be my salvation, for no godless man can appear before Him.

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

17 Listen carefully to my words; let my declaration ring in your ears.

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

18 See now, I have prepared my case; I know that I will be vindicated.

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

19 Can anyone indict me? If so, I will be silent and die.

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

20 Only grant these two things to me, so that I need not hide from You:

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

21 Withdraw Your hand from me, and do not let Your terror frighten me.

21 withdraw your hand far from me, and don’t let your terror make me afraid.

22 Then call me, and I will answer, or let me speak, and You can reply.

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

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

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

24 Why do You hide Your face and consider me as Your enemy?

24 Why do you hide your face, and consider me your enemy?

25 Would You frighten a windblown leaf? Would You chase after dry chaff?

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

26 For You record bitter accusations against me and bequeath to me the iniquities of my youth.

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

27 You put my feet in the stocks and stand watch over all my paths; You set a limit for the soles of my feet.

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

28 So man wastes away like something rotten, like a moth-eaten garment.

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