Job 13
Names of God Bible
Job Continues: You Are Not Listening to Me
13 “My eye has certainly seen all of this!
My ear has heard and understood it.
2 After all, I know it as well as you do.
I am not inferior to you.
3 However, I want to speak to Shadday,
and I wish to argue my case in front of El.
4 But you are smearing me with lies.
All of you are worthless physicians.
5 I wish you would keep silent.
For you, that would be wisdom.
6 Please listen to my argument,
and pay attention to my plea.
Your Wisdom Misrepresents God
7 “Will you talk wickedly for El
and talk deceitfully on his behalf?
8 Will you favor him
as if you were arguing in court on El’s behalf?
9 Will it go well when he cross-examines you?
Will you try to trick him as one mortal tricks another?
10 Will he really defend you
if you secretly favor him?
11 Doesn’t his majesty terrify you?
Doesn’t the fear of him fall upon you?
12 “Your recollections are worthless proverbs.[a]
Your answers are absolutely useless.[b]
13 Be quiet, because I want to speak.
Let whatever may happen to me happen!
14 I am biting off more than I can chew
and taking my life in my own hands.
15 If God would kill me, I would have no hope left.[c]
Nevertheless, I will defend my behavior to his face.
16 This also will be my salvation
because no godless person could face him.
Job Speaks to God
17 “Listen carefully to my words.
Hear my declaration.
18 I have prepared my case.
I know that I will be declared righteous.
19 Who can make a case against me?
If someone could, I’d be silent and die.
20 “Please don’t do two things to me
so that I won’t have to hide from you:
21 Stop oppressing me.
Don’t let your terror frighten me.
22 Then call, and I’ll answer.
Otherwise, I’ll speak, and you’ll answer me.
23 How many crimes and sins have I committed?
Make me aware of my disobedience and my sin.
24 Why do you hide your face from me and consider me your enemy?
25 Are you trying to make a fluttering leaf tremble
or trying to chase dry husks?
26 You write down bitter accusations against me.
You make me suffer for the sins of my youth.
27 You put my feet in shackles.
You follow my trail by engraving marks on the soles of my feet.
28 I am like worn-out wineskins,
like moth-eaten clothes.
Job 13
The Message
I’m Taking My Case to God
13 1-5 “Yes, I’ve seen all this with my own eyes,
heard and understood it with my very own ears.
Everything you know, I know,
so I’m not taking a backseat to any of you.
I’m taking my case straight to God Almighty;
I’ve had it with you—I’m going directly to God.
You graffiti my life with lies.
You’re a bunch of pompous quacks!
I wish you’d shut your mouths—
silence is your only claim to wisdom.
6-12 “Listen now while I make my case,
consider my side of things for a change.
Or are you going to keep on lying ‘to do God a service’?
to make up stories ‘to get him off the hook’?
Why do you always take his side?
Do you think he needs a lawyer to defend himself?
How would you fare if you were in the witness stand?
Your lies might convince a jury—but would they convince God?
He’d reprimand you on the spot
if he detected a bias in your witness.
Doesn’t his splendor put you in awe?
Aren’t you afraid to speak cheap lies before him?
Your wise sayings are knickknack wisdom,
good for nothing but gathering dust.
13-19 “So hold your tongue while I have my say,
then I’ll take whatever I have coming to me.
Why do I go out on a limb like this
and take my life in my hands?
Because even if he killed me, I’d keep on hoping.
I’d defend my innocence to the very end.
Just wait, this is going to work out for the best—my salvation!
If I were guilt-stricken do you think I’d be doing this—
laying myself on the line before God?
You’d better pay attention to what I’m telling you,
listen carefully with both ears.
Now that I’ve laid out my defense,
I’m sure that I’ll be acquitted.
Can anyone prove charges against me?
I’ve said my piece. I rest my case.
Why Does God Stay Hidden and Silent?
20-27 “Please, God, I have two requests;
grant them so I’ll know I count with you:
First, lay off the afflictions;
the terror is too much for me.
Second, address me directly so I can answer you,
or let me speak and then you answer me.
How many sins have been charged against me?
Show me the list—how bad is it?
Why do you stay hidden and silent?
Why treat me like I’m your enemy?
Why kick me around like an old tin can?
Why beat a dead horse?
You compile a long list of mean things about me,
even hold me accountable for the sins of my youth.
You hobble me so I can’t move about.
You watch every move I make,
and brand me as a dangerous character.
28 “Like something rotten, human life fast decomposes,
like a moth-eaten shirt or a mildewed blouse.”
The Names of God Bible (without notes) © 2011 by Baker Publishing Group.
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson