Job 13

World English Bible

13 “Behold, my eye has seen all this.
    My ear has heard and understood it.
² What you know, I know also.
    I am not inferior to you.

³ “Surely I would speak to the Almighty.
    I desire to reason with God.
⁴ But you are forgers of lies.
    You are all physicians of no value.
⁵ Oh that you would be completely silent!
    Then you would be wise.
⁶ Hear now my reasoning.
    Listen to the pleadings of my lips.
⁷ Will you speak unrighteously for God,
    and talk deceitfully for him?
⁸ Will you show partiality to him?
    Will you contend for God?
⁹ Is it good that he should search you out?
    Or as one deceives a man, will you deceive him?
¹⁰ He will surely reprove you
    if you secretly show partiality.
¹¹ Shall not his majesty make you afraid,
    and his dread fall on you?
¹² Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes.
    Your defenses are defenses of clay.

¹³ “Be silent!
    Leave me alone, that I may speak.
    Let come on me what will.
¹⁴ Why should I take my flesh in my teeth,
    and put my life in my hand?
¹⁵ Behold, he will kill me.
    I have no hope.
    Nevertheless, I will maintain my ways before him.
¹⁶ This also will be my salvation,
    that a godless man will not come before him.
¹⁷ Listen carefully to my speech.
    Let my declaration be in your ears.
¹⁸ See now, I have set my cause in order.
    I know that I am righteous.
¹⁹ Who is he who will contend with me?
    For then would I hold my peace and give up the spirit.

²⁰ “Only don’t do two things to me,
    then I will not hide myself from your face:
²¹ withdraw your hand far from me,
    and don’t let your terror make me afraid.
²² Then call, and I will answer,
    or let me speak, and you answer me.
²³ How many are my iniquities and sins?
    Make me know my disobedience and my sin.
²⁴ Why do you hide your face,
    and consider me your enemy?
²⁵ Will you harass a driven leaf?
    Will you pursue the dry stubble?
²⁶ For you write bitter things against me,
    and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth:
²⁷ You also put my feet in the stocks,
    and mark all my paths.
    You set a bound to the soles of my feet,
²⁸ though I am decaying like a rotten thing,
    like a garment that is moth-eaten.