Job 13

Job Continues: Still I Will Hope in God

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.
3  But I would speak to the Almighty,
and I desire to argue my case with God.
4  As for you, you whitewash with lies;
worthless physicians are you all.
5  Oh that you would keep silent,
and it would be your wisdom!
6  Hear now my argument
and listen to the pleadings of my lips.
7  Will you speak falsely for God
and speak deceitfully for him?
8  Will you show partiality toward him?
Will you plead the case for God?
9  Will it be well with you when he searches you out?
Or can you deceive him, as one deceives a man?
10  He will surely rebuke you
if in secret you show partiality.
11  Will not his majesty terrify you,
and the dread of him fall upon you?
12  Your maxims are proverbs of ashes;
your defenses are defenses of clay.

13  "Let me have silence, and I will speak,
and let come on me what may.
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;t
yet I will argue my ways to his face.
16  This will be my salvation,
that the godless shall not come before him.
17  Keep listening to my words,
and let my declaration be in your ears.
18  Behold, I have prepared my case;
I know that I shall be in the right.
19  Who is there who will contend with me?
For then I would be silent and die.
20  Only grant me two things,
then I will not hide myself from your face:
21  withdraw your hand far from me,
and let not dread of you terrify me.
22  Then call, and I will answer;
or let me speak, and you reply to me.
23  How many are my iniquities and my sins?
Make me know my transgression and my sin.
24  Why do you hide your face
and count me as your enemy?
25  Will you frighten a driven leaf
and pursue dry chaff?
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 watch all my paths;
you set a limit fort the soles of my feet.
28  Mant wastes away like a rotten thing,
like a garment that is moth-eaten.

Job 13

Job Pleads His Cause to God

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

2 What you know,t It know also;
I am not inferiort to you!

3 But I wish to speakt to the Almighty,t
and I desire to arguet my caset with God.

4 But you, however, are inventors of lies;t
all of you are worthless physicians!t

5 If only you would keep completely silent!t
For you, that would be wisdom.t

6 “Listen now to my argument,s
and be attentive to my lips’ contentions.t

7 Will you speak wickedlyt on God’s behalf?t
Will you speak deceitfully for him?

8 Will you show him partiality?s
Will you argue the caset for God?

9 Would it turn out well if he would examinet you?
Or as one deceivest a man would you deceive him?

10 He would certainly rebukets you
if you secretlys showed partiality!

11 Would not his splendors terrifyt you
and the fear he inspirest fall on you?

12 Your maximst are proverbs of ashes;t
your defensest are defenses of clay.s

13 “Refrain from talkingt with me so thatt I may speak;
then let come to met what may.t

14 Whys do I put myself in peril,t
and take my life in my hands?

15 Even if he slays me, I will hope in him;t
I will surelyt defendt my ways to his face!

16 Moreover, this will become my deliverance,
for no godless person would come before him.s

17 Listen carefullyt to my words;
let your ears be attentive to my explanation.t

18 See now,t I have preparedt myt case;t
I know that I am right.t

19 Whot will contend with me?
If anyone can, I will be silent and die.s

20 Only in two things spare me,t O God,t
and then I will not hide from your face:

21 Removet your hands far from me
and stop making me afraid with your terror.t

22 Then call,t and I will answer,
or I will speak, and you respond to me.

23 How many are myt iniquities and sins?
Show me my transgression and my sin.s

24 Why do you hide your faces
and regard me as your enemy?

25 Do you wish to tormentt a windblownt leaf
and chase after dry chaff?t

26 For you write downt bitter things against me
and cause me to inherit the sins of my youth.s

27 And you put my feet in the stockst
and you watch all my movements;t
you put markst on the soles of my feet.

28 So It waste away like something rotten,t
like a garment eaten by moths.