Job 13
Holman Christian Standard Bible
13 Look, my eyes have seen all this;
my ears(A) have heard and understood it.
2 Everything you know, I also know;
I am not inferior to you.(B)
3 Yet I prefer to speak to the Almighty
and argue my case before God.(C)
4 But you coat the truth with lies;
you are all worthless doctors.(D)
5 If only you would shut up
and let that be your wisdom!
6 Hear now my argument,
and listen to my defense.[a]
7 Would you testify unjustly on God’s behalf
or speak deceitfully for Him?
8 Would you show partiality(E) to Him
or argue the case in His defense?
9 Would it go well if He examined you?
Could you deceive Him as you would deceive a man?(F)
10 Surely He would rebuke you
if you secretly showed partiality.
11 Would God’s majesty not terrify you?(G)
Would His dread not fall on you?
12 Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ash;(H)
your defenses are made of clay.
13 Be quiet,[b] and I will speak.
Let whatever comes happen to me.
14 Why do I put myself at risk[c]
and take my life in my own hands?
15 Even if He kills me, I will hope in Him.[d]
I will still defend(I) my ways before Him.
16 Yes, this will result in my deliverance,
for no godless person(J) can appear before Him.
17 Pay close attention to my words;
let my declaration ring in your ears.
18 Now then, I have prepared my case;(K)
I know that I am right.
19 Can anyone indict me?
If so, I will be silent and die.
20 Only grant these two things to me, God,
so that I will not have to hide from Your presence:
21 remove Your hand from me,
and do not let Your terror frighten me.(L)
22 Then call, and I will answer,(M)
or I will speak, and You can respond to me.
23 How many iniquities(N) and sins have I committed?[e]
Reveal to me my transgression and sin.
24 Why do You hide Your face
and consider me Your enemy?(O)
25 Will You frighten a wind-driven leaf?
Will You chase after dry straw?
26 For You record bitter accusations 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,
setting a limit for the soles[f] of my feet.
28 Man wears out like something rotten,
like a moth-eaten garment.(P)
Job 13
International Children’s Bible
13 “My eyes have seen all this.
My ears have heard and understood it.
2 What you know, I also know.
You are not better than I am.
3 But I want to speak to God All-Powerful.
I want to argue my case with God.
4 But you smear me with lies.
You are worthless doctors, all of you!
5 I wish you would just stop talking.
Then you would really be wise!
6 Listen to my argument.
Hear my lips begging.
7 You should not speak for God by saying evil things.
You cannot speak God’s truth by telling lies.
8 You should not unfairly choose his side against mine.
You should not argue the case for God.
9 You will not do well if he examines you.
You cannot fool God as you might fool men.
10 God would surely scold you
if you unfairly took one person’s side.
11 His bright glory would scare you.
You would be very much afraid of him.
12 Your wise sayings are worth no more than ashes.
Your arguments are as weak as clay.
13 “Be quiet and let me speak.
Then let things happen to me as they will.
14 I will put myself in danger
and take my life in my own hands.
15 He will kill me. I have no hope.[a]
But I still will defend my ways to his face.
16 This might really save me,
because a wicked man would not be brave enough to come before him.
17 Listen carefully to what I say.
Let your ears hear what I say.
18 See now, I have prepared my case.
I know I will be proved right.
19 No one can blame me for doing wrong.
If someone can, I will be quiet and die.
20 “God, please just give me these two things.
Then I will not hide from you.
21 Take your punishment away from me.
And stop frightening me with your terrors.
22 Then call me, and I will answer.
Or let me speak and you answer.
23 How many evil things and sins have I done?
Show me my wrong and my sin.
24 Don’t hide your face from me.
Don’t think of me as your enemy.
25 Don’t punish a leaf that is blown by the wind.
Don’t chase after dry chaff.
26 You write down cruel things against me.
You make me suffer for sins I did when I was young.
27 You put my feet in chains.
You keep close watch on everywhere I go.
And you mark the soles of my feet.
28 So man wears out like something rotten.
He is like clothing that has been eaten by moths.
Footnotes
- 13:15 He . . . hope. Or “Even if God kills me, I will still put my hope in him.”
Job 13
Young's Literal Translation
13 Lo, all -- hath mine eye seen, Heard hath mine ear, and it attendeth to it.
2 According to your knowledge I have known -- also I. I am not fallen more than you.
3 Yet I for the Mighty One do speak, And to argue for God I delight.
4 And yet, ye [are] forgers of falsehood, Physicians of nought -- all of you,
5 O that ye would keep perfectly silent, And it would be to you for wisdom.
6 Hear, I pray you, my argument, And to the pleadings of my lips attend,
7 For God do ye speak perverseness? And for Him do ye speak deceit?
8 His face do ye accept, if for God ye strive?
9 Is [it] good that He doth search you, If, as one mocketh at a man, ye mock at Him?
10 He doth surely reprove you, if in secret ye accept faces.
11 Doth not His excellency terrify you? And His dread fall upon you?
12 Your remembrances [are] similes of ashes, For high places of clay your heights.
13 Keep silent from me, and I speak, And pass over me doth what?
14 Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth? And my soul put in my hand?
15 Lo, He doth slay me -- I wait not! Only, my ways unto His face I argue.
16 Also -- He [is] to me for salvation, For the profane cometh not before Him.
17 Hear ye diligently my word, And my declaration with your ears.
18 Lo, I pray you, I have set in order the cause, I have known that I am righteous.
19 Who [is] he that doth strive with me? For now I keep silent and gasp.
20 Only two things, O God, do with me: Then from Thy face I am not hidden.
21 Thy hand put far off from me, And Thy terror let not terrify me.
22 And call Thou, and I -- I answer, Or -- I speak, and answer Thou me.
23 How many iniquities and sins have I? My transgression and my sin let me know.
24 Why dost Thou hide Thy face? And reckonest me for an enemy to Thee?
25 A leaf driven away dost Thou terrify? And the dry stubble dost Thou pursue?
26 For Thou writest against me bitter things, And causest me to possess iniquities of my youth:
27 And puttest in the stocks my feet, And observest all my paths, On the roots of my feet Thou settest a print,
28 And he, as a rotten thing, weareth away, As a garment hath a moth consumed him.
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
