Print Page Options Listen to Job 13

13 Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it.

What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you.

Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.

But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.

O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.

Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.

Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?

Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God?

Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him?

10 He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.

11 Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you?

12 Your remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.

13 Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.

14 Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?

15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

16 He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.

17 Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.

18 Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.

19 Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.

20 Only do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from thee.

21 Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid.

22 Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me.

23 How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin.

24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy?

25 Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?

26 For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth.

27 Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet.

28 And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth eaten.

13 Look, my eyes have seen all this;
my ears(A) have heard and understood it.
Everything you know, I also know;
I am not inferior to you.(B)
Yet I prefer to speak to the Almighty
and argue my case before God.(C)
But you coat the truth with lies;
you are all worthless doctors.(D)
If only you would shut up
and let that be your wisdom!

Hear now my argument,
and listen to my defense.[a]
Would you testify unjustly on God’s behalf
or speak deceitfully for Him?
Would you show partiality(E) to Him
or argue the case in His defense?
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)

Footnotes

  1. Job 13:6 Lit to the claims of my lips
  2. Job 13:13 Lit quiet before me
  3. Job 13:14 Lit I take my flesh in my teeth
  4. Job 13:15 Some Hb mss read I will be without hope
  5. Job 13:23 Lit sins are to me
  6. Job 13:27 Lit paths. You mark a line around the roots

13 Lo, mine eye hath seen all this,
Mine ear hath heard and understood it.
What ye know, the same do I know also:
I am not inferior unto you.

Surely I would speak to the Almighty,
And I desire to reason with God.
But ye are forgers of lies;
Ye are all physicians of no value.
Oh that ye would altogether hold your peace!
And it would be your wisdom.
Hear now my reasoning,
And hearken to the pleadings of my lips.
Will ye speak unrighteously for God,
And talk deceitfully for him?
Will ye show partiality to him?
Will ye contend for God?
Is it good that he should search you out?
Or as one [a]deceiveth a man, will ye [b]deceive him?
10 He will surely reprove you,
If ye do secretly show partiality.
11 Shall not his majesty make you afraid,
And his dread fall upon you?
12 Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes,
Your defences are defences of clay.

13 Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak;
And let come on me what will.
14 [c]Wherefore should I take my flesh in my teeth,
And put my life in my hand?
15 [d]Behold, he will slay me; I have no hope:
Nevertheless I will [e]maintain my ways before him.
16 This also shall be my salvation,
That a godless man shall not come before him.
17 Hear diligently my speech,
And let my declaration be in your ears.
18 Behold now, I have set my cause in order;
I know that I [f]am righteous.
19 Who is he that will contend with me?
For then [g]would I hold my peace and give up the ghost.

20 Only do not two things unto me;
Then will I not hide myself from thy face:
21 Withdraw thy hand far from me;
And let not thy terror make me afraid.
22 Then call thou, and I will answer;
Or let me speak, and answer thou me.
23 How many are mine iniquities and sins?
Make me to know my transgression and my sin.
24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face,
And holdest me for thine enemy?
25 Wilt thou harass a driven leaf?
And wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?
26 For thou writest bitter things against me,
And makest me to inherit the iniquities of my youth:
27 Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks,
And markest all my paths;
Thou settest a bound to the soles of my feet:
28 [h]Though I am like a rotten thing that consumeth,
Like a garment that is moth-eaten.

Footnotes

  1. Job 13:9 Or, mocketh
  2. Job 13:9 Or, mock
  3. Job 13:14 Or, At all adventures I will take etc.
  4. Job 13:15 Or, Though he slay me, yet will I wait for him
  5. Job 13:15 Hebrew argue.
  6. Job 13:18 Or, shall be justified
  7. Job 13:19 Or, if I hold my peace, I shall give up etc.
  8. Job 13:28 Hebrew And he is like.

13 Lo, all -- hath mine eye seen, Heard hath mine ear, and it attendeth to it.

According to your knowledge I have known -- also I. I am not fallen more than you.

Yet I for the Mighty One do speak, And to argue for God I delight.

And yet, ye [are] forgers of falsehood, Physicians of nought -- all of you,

O that ye would keep perfectly silent, And it would be to you for wisdom.

Hear, I pray you, my argument, And to the pleadings of my lips attend,

For God do ye speak perverseness? And for Him do ye speak deceit?

His face do ye accept, if for God ye strive?

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.

13 “Lo, my eye has seen all this, my ear has heard and understood it.

What you know, I also know;
    I am not inferior to you.
But I would speak to the Almighty,
    and I desire to argue my case with God.
As for you, you whitewash with lies;
    worthless physicians are you all.
Oh that you would keep silent,
    and it would be your wisdom!
Hear now my reasoning,
    and listen to the pleadings of my lips.
Will you speak falsely for God,
    and speak deceitfully for him?
Will you show partiality toward him,
    will you plead the case for God?
Will it be well with you when he searches you out?
    Or 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 majesty terrify you,
    and the dread of him fall upon you?
12 Your maxims are proverbs of ashes,
    your defenses are defenses of clay.

13 “Let me have silence, and I will speak,
    and let come on me what may.
14 I will take[a] my flesh in my teeth,
    and put my life in my hand.
15 Behold, he will slay me; I have no hope;
    yet I will defend my ways to his face.
16 This will be my salvation,
    that a godless man shall not come before him.
17 Listen carefully to my words,
    and let my declaration be in your ears.
18 Behold, I have prepared my case;
    I know that I shall be vindicated.
19 Who is there that will contend with me?
    For then I would be silent and die.

Job’s Despondent Prayer

20 Only grant two things to me,
    then I will not hide myself from thy face:
21 withdraw thy hand far from me,
    and let not dread of thee terrify me.
22 Then call, and I will answer;
    or let me speak, and do thou reply to me.
23 How many are my iniquities and my sins?
    Make me know my transgression and my sin.
24 Why dost thou hide thy face,
    and count me as thy enemy?
25 Wilt thou frighten a driven leaf
    and pursue dry chaff?
26 For thou writest bitter things against me,
    and makest me inherit the iniquities of my youth.
27 Thou puttest my feet in the stocks,
    and watchest all my paths;
    thou settest a bound to the soles of my feet.
28 Man[b] wastes away like a rotten thing,
    like a garment that is moth-eaten.

Footnotes

  1. Job 13:14 Gk: Heb Why should I take?
  2. Job 13:28 Heb He