Job 13
Expanded Bible
13 “·Now [Look,] my eyes have seen all this;
my ears have heard and understood it [C Job claims to be as wise as the three friends].
2 What you know, I also know.
·You are not better than I am [L I am not inferior to you; 12:3].
3 But I want to speak to ·the Almighty [Shaddai]
and [L I would love] to ·argue my case with [reprove] God.
4 But you smear me with lies [C good doctors would smear their patients with healing lotions].
You are worthless ·doctors [physicians], all of you!
5 I wish you would just ·stop talking [shut up];
then you would really be wise [Prov. 17:28]!
6 Listen to my ·argument [reproof],
and ·hear [L pay attention to] the ·pleading [L accusation] of my lips.
7 ·You should not speak evil in the name of [L Will you speak unjustly for…?] God;
·you cannot speak God’s truth by telling lies [L will you speak deceitful things about him?].
8 ·You should not unfairly choose his side against mine [L Will you favor him…?];
·you should not argue the case [L if you make an accusation] for God.
9 ·You will not do [Will it go…?] well if he examines you;
you cannot ·fool [deceive] God as you might ·fool [deceive] humans.
10 God would surely ·scold [reprimand; reprove] you
if you ·unfairly [or secretly] took one person’s side.
11 [L Does not…?] His ·bright glory [majesty] would scare you,
and ·you would be very much afraid of him [L his fear fall on you].
12 Your ·wise sayings [L proclamations] are ·worth no more than ashes [L are made of dust],
and your ·arguments [responses] are ·as weak as [L made of] clay.
13 “Be quiet and let me speak.
Let things happen to me as they will.
14 ·Why should I [or I will…] ·put myself in danger [L take my flesh in my teeth; C a metaphor for risk-taking]
and take my life in my own ·hands [L palm]?
15 ·Even if God kills me, I have hope in him [or See, he will kill me; I have no hope];
I will ·still defend [reprove him concerning] my ways to his face.
16 This is my salvation.
The wicked cannot come ·before him [into his presence].
17 Listen ·carefully [closely] to my words;
let your ears hear what I say.
18 See, I have prepared ·my case [for the judgment],
and I know I ·will be proved right [or am righteous].
19 ·No one can accuse [L Who is it that accuses…?] me of doing wrong.
If someone can, I will be quiet and die.
20 “God, please just give me these two things,
and then I will not hide from you:
21 Take your ·punishment [L palm] 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 [or What are the] ·evil things [faults] and sins have I done?
·Show [Make known to] me my ·wrong [transgressions] and my sin.
24 ·Don’t [L Why do you…?] hide your face from me;
don’t ·think of me as [consider me] your enemy [Ps. 30:6–7].
25 ·Don’t punish [L Will you frighten…?] a leaf that is blown by the wind;
·don’t [L and] chase after straw.
26 You write down ·cruel [bitter] things against me
and make me ·suffer for [inherit] my boyhood sins.
27 You put my feet in ·chains [stocks]
and ·keep close watch wherever I go [L guard all my paths].
You even ·mark [incise; cut] the soles of my feet [C to leave a distinctive footprint easily followed].
28 “Everyone wears out like something rotten,
like clothing eaten by moths.
Job 13
New American Standard Bible
Job Says His Friends’ Proverbs Are Ashes
13 “(A)Behold, my eye has seen all this,
My ear has heard and understood it.
2 (B)What you know I also know;
I am not inferior to you.
3 “But (C)I would speak to [a]the Almighty,
And I desire to (D)argue with God.
4 But you (E)smear me with lies;
You are all (F)worthless physicians.
5 Oh that you would (G)be completely silent,
And that it would become your wisdom!
6 Please hear my argument,
And give your attention to the contentions of my lips.
7 Will you (H)speak what is unjust for God,
And speak what is deceitful for Him?
8 Will you (I)show partiality for Him?
Will you contend for God?
9 Will it go well when He examines you?
Or (J)will you deceive Him as one deceives a man?
10 He will certainly punish you
If you secretly (K)show partiality.
11 Will (L)His [b]majesty not terrify you,
And the dread of Him fall upon you?
12 Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes,
Your defenses are defenses of clay.
Job Is Sure He Will Be Vindicated
13 “(M)Be silent before me so that I may speak;
Then let come upon me what may.
14 Why should I take my flesh in my teeth,
And (N)put my life in my [c]hands?
15 (O)Though He slay me,
I will [d]hope in Him.
Nevertheless I (P)will argue my ways [e]before Him.
16 This also will be my (Q)salvation,
For (R)a godless person cannot come before His presence.
17 Listen carefully to my speech,
And let my declaration fill your ears.
18 Behold now, I have (S)prepared my case;
I know that (T)I will be vindicated.
19 (U)Who could contend with me?
For then I would be silent and (V)die.
20 “Only two things I ask that You do not do to me,
Then I will not hide from Your face:
21 (W)Remove Your [f]hand from me,
And may the dread of You not terrify me.
22 Then call and (X)I will answer;
Or let me speak, then reply to me.
23 (Y)How many are my guilty deeds and sins?
Make known to me my wrongdoing and my sin.
24 Why do You (Z)hide Your face
And consider me (AA)Your enemy?
25 Will You scare away a (AB)scattered leaf?
Or will You pursue the dry (AC)chaff?
26 For You write (AD)bitter things against me
And (AE)make me inherit the guilty deeds of my youth.
27 You (AF)put my feet in the stocks
And watch all my paths;
You [g]set a limit for the soles of my feet,
28 While [h]I am decaying like a (AG)rotten thing,
Like a garment that is moth-eaten.
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
