Job 13

₁“Behold, my eye has seen all this,

my ear has heard and understood it.

₂What you know, I also know;

I am not inferior to you.

₃But I would speak to the Almighty,

and I desire to argue my case with God.

₄As for you, you whitewash with lies;

worthless physicians are you all.

₅Oh that you would keep silent,

and it would be your wisdom!

₆Hear now my argument

and listen to the pleadings of my lips.

₇Will you speak falsely for God

and speak deceitfully for him?

₈Will you show partiality toward him?

Will you plead the case for God?

₉Will it be well with you when he searches you out?

Or can you deceive him, as one deceives a man?

₁₀He will surely rebuke you

if in secret you show partiality.

₁₁Will not his majesty terrify you,

and the dread of him fall upon you?

₁₂Your 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.

₁₄Why should I take my flesh in my teeth

and put my life in my hand?

₁₅Though he slay me, I will hope in him;

yet I will argue my ways to his face.

₁₆This will be my salvation,

that the godless shall not come before him.

₁₇Keep listening to my words,

and let my declaration be in your ears.

₁₈Behold, I have prepared my case;

I know that I shall be in the right.

₁₉Who is there who will contend with me?

For then I would be silent and die.

₂₀Only grant me two things,

then I will not hide myself from your face:

₂₁withdraw your hand far from me,

and let not dread of you terrify me.

₂₂Then call, and I will answer;

or let me speak, and you reply to me.

₂₃How many are my iniquities and my sins?

Make me know my transgression and my sin.

₂₄Why do you hide your face

and count me as your enemy?

₂₅Will you frighten a driven leaf

and pursue dry chaff?

₂₆For you write bitter things against me

and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.

₂₇You put my feet in the stocks

and watch all my paths;

you set a limit for the soles of my feet.

₂₈Man wastes away like a rotten thing,

like a garment that is moth-eaten.