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Job Continues

I Know and Understand

13 I know and understand
    every bit of this.
None of you are smarter
    than I am;
there's nothing you know
    that I don't.
But I prefer to argue my case
    with God All-Powerful—
you are merely useless doctors,
    who treat me with lies.
The wisest thing you can do
is to keep quiet and listen
    to my argument.
Are you telling lies for God
and not telling the whole truth
    when you argue his case?
If he took you to court,
could you fool him,
    just as you fool others?
10 If you were secretly unfair,
    he would correct you,
11 and his glorious splendor
    would make you terrified.
12 Your wisdom and arguments
    will blow away like dust.

Be Quiet While I Speak

13 Be quiet while I speak,
    and we'll see what happens.
14 I will be responsible
    for what happens to me.
15 God may kill me, but still
I will trust him[a]
    and offer my defense.
16 This may be what saves me,
because no guilty person
    would come to his court.
17 Listen carefully to my words!
18 I have prepared my case well,
    and I am certain to win.
19 If you can prove me guilty,
    I will give up and die.

Job Prays

I Ask Only Two Things

20 I ask only two things
    of you, my God,
and I will no longer
    hide from you—
21 stop punishing
    and terrifying me!

22 Then speak, and I will reply;
or else let me speak,
    and you reply.
23 Please point out my sins,
    so I will know them.
24 Why have you turned your back
    and count me your enemy?
25 Do you really enjoy
    frightening a fallen leaf?
26 Why do you accuse me
    of horrible crimes
and make me pay for sins
    I did in my youth?
27 (A) You have tied my feet down
    and keep me surrounded;
28 I am rotting away like cloth
    eaten by worms.

Footnotes

  1. 13.15 God … trust him: Or “God will surely kill me; I have lost all hope.”

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