Job 13
English Standard Version
Job Continues: Still I Will Hope in God
13 “Behold, my eye has seen all this,
my ear has heard and understood it.
2 (A)What you know, I also know;
I am not inferior to you.
3 (B)But I would speak to the Almighty,
and I desire to (C)argue my case with God.
4 As for you, (D)you whitewash with lies;
(E)worthless physicians are you all.
5 Oh that you would (F)keep silent,
and it would be your wisdom!
6 Hear now my argument
and listen to the pleadings of my lips.
7 Will you (G)speak falsely for God
and speak (H)deceitfully for him?
8 Will you show partiality toward him?
Will you (I)plead the case for God?
9 Will it be well with you when he (J)searches you out?
Or (K)can you deceive him, as one deceives a man?
10 He will surely rebuke you
if in secret you show partiality.
11 Will not his (L)majesty terrify you,
and the dread of him fall upon you?
12 Your maxims are proverbs of (M)ashes;
your defenses are defenses of clay.
13 “Let me have silence, and I will speak,
and let come on me what may.
14 Why should I take my flesh in my teeth
and (N)put my life in my hand?
15 (O)Though he slay me, I will (P)hope in him;[a]
yet I will (Q)argue my ways to his face.
16 This will be my salvation,
that the godless shall not come before him.
17 (R)Keep listening to my words,
and let my declaration be in your ears.
18 Behold, I have (S)prepared my case;
I know that I shall be in the right.
19 (T)Who is there who will contend with me?
For then I would be silent and die.
20 Only grant me two things,
then I will not (U)hide myself from your face:
21 (V)withdraw your hand far from me,
and let not (W)dread of you terrify me.
22 (X)Then call, and I will answer;
or let me speak, and you reply to me.
23 How many are my iniquities and my sins?
(Y)Make me know my transgression and my sin.
24 Why (Z)do you hide your face
and (AA)count me as your enemy?
25 Will you frighten (AB)a driven leaf
and pursue dry (AC)chaff?
26 For you (AD)write bitter things against me
and make me inherit (AE)the iniquities of my youth.
27 You put my feet in (AF)the stocks
and (AG)watch all my paths;
you set a limit for[b] the soles of my feet.
28 Man[c] wastes away like (AH)a rotten thing,
like a garment that is (AI)moth-eaten.
Job 13
New Living Translation
Job Wants to Argue His Case with God
13 “Look, I have seen all this with my own eyes
and heard it with my own ears, and now I understand.
2 I know as much as you do.
You are no better than I am.
3 As for me, I would speak directly to the Almighty.
I want to argue my case with God himself.
4 As for you, you smear me with lies.
As physicians, you are worthless quacks.
5 If only you could be silent!
That’s the wisest thing you could do.
6 Listen to my charge;
pay attention to my arguments.
7 “Are you defending God with lies?
Do you make your dishonest arguments for his sake?
8 Will you slant your testimony in his favor?
Will you argue God’s case for him?
9 What will happen when he finds out what you are doing?
Can you fool him as easily as you fool people?
10 No, you will be in trouble with him
if you secretly slant your testimony in his favor.
11 Doesn’t his majesty terrify you?
Doesn’t your fear of him overwhelm you?
12 Your platitudes are as valuable as ashes.
Your defense is as fragile as a clay pot.
13 “Be silent now and leave me alone.
Let me speak, and I will face the consequences.
14 Why should I put myself in mortal danger[a]
and take my life in my own hands?
15 God might kill me, but I have no other hope.[b]
I am going to argue my case with him.
16 But this is what will save me—I am not godless.
If I were, I could not stand before him.
17 “Listen closely to what I am about to say.
Hear me out.
18 I have prepared my case;
I will be proved innocent.
19 Who can argue with me over this?
And if you prove me wrong, I will remain silent and die.
Job Asks How He Has Sinned
20 “O God, grant me these two things,
and then I will be able to face you.
21 Remove your heavy hand from me,
and don’t terrify me with your awesome presence.
22 Now summon me, and I will answer!
Or let me speak to you, and you reply.
23 Tell me, what have I done wrong?
Show me my rebellion and my sin.
24 Why do you turn away from me?
Why do you treat me as your enemy?
25 Would you terrify a leaf blown by the wind?
Would you chase dry straw?
26 “You write bitter accusations against me
and bring up all the sins of my youth.
27 You put my feet in stocks.
You examine all my paths.
You trace all my footprints.
28 I waste away like rotting wood,
like a moth-eaten coat.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
