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

“Surely I would speak to the Almighty.
    I desire to reason with God.
But you are forgers of lies.
    You are all physicians of no value.
Oh that you would be completely silent!
    Then you would be wise.
Hear now my reasoning.
    Listen to the pleadings of my lips.
Will you speak unrighteously for God,
    and talk deceitfully for him?
Will you show partiality to him?
    Will you contend for God?
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.

13 “Look, 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,[a]
    and I desire to argue my case with God.(A)
As for you, you whitewash with lies;
    all of you are worthless physicians.(B)
If you would only keep silent,
    that would be your wisdom!(C)
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 person deceives another?(D)
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.(E)

13 “Let me have silence, and I will speak,
    and let come on me what may.
14 I will take my flesh in my teeth
    and put my life in my hand.[b](F)
15 See, he will kill me; I have no hope;[c]
    but I will defend my ways to his face.(G)
16 This will be my salvation,
    that the godless shall not come before him.(H)
17 Listen carefully to my words,
    and let my declaration be in your ears.(I)
18 I have indeed prepared my case;
    I know that I shall be vindicated.
19 Who is there who will contend with me?
    For then I would be silent and die.(J)

Job’s Despondent Prayer

20 “Only grant two things to me;
    then I will not hide myself from your face:
21 withdraw your hand far from me,
    and do not let dread of you terrify me.(K)
22 Then call, and I will answer;
    or let me speak, and you reply to me.(L)
23 How many are my iniquities and my sins?
    Make me know my transgression and my sin.(M)
24 Why do you hide your face
    and count me as your enemy?(N)
25 Will you frighten a windblown leaf
    and pursue dry chaff?(O)
26 For you write bitter things against me
    and make me reap[d] the iniquities of my youth.(P)
27 You put my feet in the stocks
    and watch all my paths;
    you set a bound to the soles of my feet.
28 One wastes away like a rotten thing,
    like a garment that is moth-eaten.(Q)

Footnotes

  1. 13.3 Traditional rendering of Heb Shaddai
  2. 13.14 Gk: Heb Why should I take . . . in my hand?
  3. 13.15 Or Though he kill me, yet I will trust in him
  4. 13.26 Heb inherit