Job 13

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

15Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.footnote b

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

27Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet.footnote cfootnote d

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

Job Prepares His Case

1“Indeed, my eyes have seen all this;my ears have heard and understood. 2What you know, I also know;I am not inferior to you. 3Yet I desire to speak to the Almightyand argue my case before God. 4You, however, smear with lies;you are all worthless physicians. 5If only you would remain silent;for that would be your wisdom!

6Hear now my argument,and listen to the plea of my lips. 7Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalfor speak deceitfully for Him? 8Would you show Him partialityor argue in His defense? 9Would it be well when He examined you?Could you deceive Him as you would deceive a man? 10Surely He would rebuke youif you secretly showed partiality. 11Would His majesty not terrify you?Would the dread of Him not fall upon you? 12Your maxims are proverbs of ashes;your defenses are defenses of clay.

13Be silent, and I will speak.Then let come to me what may. 14Why do I put myself at riskfootnote aand take my life in my own hands? 15Though He slay me, I will hope in Him.footnote bI will still defend my ways to His face. 16Moreover, this will be my salvation,for no godless man can appear before Him. 17Listen carefully to my words;let my declaration ring in your ears. 18See now, I have prepared my case;I know that I will be vindicated. 19Can anyone indict me?If so, I will be silent and die.

20Only grant these two things to me,so that I need not hide from You: 21Withdraw Your hand from me,and do not let Your terror frighten me. 22Then call me, and I will answer,or let me speak, and You can reply. 23How many are my iniquities and sins?Reveal to me my transgression and sin. 24Why do You hide Your faceand consider me as Your enemy? 25Would You frighten a windblown leaf?Would You chase after dry chaff? 26For You record bitter accusations against meand bequeath to me the iniquities of my youth. 27You put my feet in the stocksand stand watch over all my paths;You set a limitfor the soles of my feet.

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