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Job 13
Revised Standard Version
Job 13
Revised Standard Version
13 “Lo, my eye has seen all this, my ear has heard and understood it.
2 What you know, I also know;
I am not inferior to you.
3 But I would speak to the Almighty,
and I desire to argue my case with God.
4 As for you, you whitewash with lies;
worthless physicians are you all.
5 Oh that you would keep silent,
and it would be your wisdom!
6 Hear now my reasoning,
and listen to the pleadings of my lips.
7 Will you speak falsely for God,
and speak deceitfully for him?
8 Will you show partiality toward him,
will you plead the case for God?
9 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.
Job 13
Living Bible
Job 13
Living Bible
13 “Look, I have seen many instances such as you describe. I understand what you are saying. 2 I know as much as you do. I’m not stupid. 3 Oh, how I long to speak directly to the Almighty. I want to talk this over with God himself. 4 For you are misinterpreting the whole thing. You are doctors who don’t know what they are doing. 5 Oh, please be quiet! That would be your highest wisdom.
6 “Listen to me now, to my reasons for what I think and to my pleadings.
7 “Must you go on ‘speaking for God’ when he never once has said the things that you are putting in his mouth? 8 Does God want your help if you are going to twist the truth for him? 9 Be careful that he doesn’t find out what you are doing! Or do you think you can fool God as well as men? 10 No, you will be in serious trouble with him if you use lies to try to help him out. 11 Doesn’t his majesty strike terror to your heart? How can you do this thing? 12 These tremendous statements you have made have about as much value as ashes. Your defense of God is as fragile as a clay vase!
13 “Be silent now and leave me alone, that I may speak—and I am willing to face the consequences. 14 Yes, I will take my life in my hand and say what I really think. 15 God may kill me for saying this—in fact, I expect him to. Nevertheless, I am going to argue my case with him.[a] 16 This at least will be in my favor, that I am not godless, to be rejected instantly from his presence. 17 Listen closely to what I am about to say. Hear me out.
18 “This is my case: I know that I am righteous. 19 Who can argue with me over this? If you could prove me wrong, I would stop defending myself and die.
20 “O God, there are two things I beg you not to do to me; only then will I be able to face you. 21 Don’t abandon me. And don’t terrify me with your awesome presence. 22 Call to me to come—how quickly I will answer! Or let me speak to you, and you reply. 23 Tell me, what have I done wrong? Help me! Point out my sin to me. 24 Why do you turn away from me? Why hand me over to my enemy? 25 Would you blame a leaf that is blown about by the wind? Will you chase dry, useless straws?
26 “You write bitter things against me and bring up all the follies of my youth. 27-28 You send me to prison and shut me in on every side. I am like a fallen, rotten tree, like a moth-eaten coat.
Footnotes
- Job 13:15 God may kill me . . . I am going to argue my case with him, or “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him. I will argue my case before him.”
Job 13
New International Version
Job 13
New International Version
13 “My eyes have seen all this,(A)
my ears have heard and understood it.
2 What you know, I also know;
I am not inferior to you.(B)
3 But I desire to speak to the Almighty(C)
and to argue my case with God.(D)
4 You, however, smear me with lies;(E)
you are worthless physicians,(F) all of you!(G)
5 If only you would be altogether silent!(H)
For you, that would be wisdom.(I)
6 Hear now my argument;
listen to the pleas of my lips.(J)
7 Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf?
Will you speak deceitfully for him?(K)
8 Will you show him partiality?(L)
Will you argue the case for God?
9 Would it turn out well if he examined you?(M)
Could you deceive him as you might deceive a mortal?(N)
10 He would surely call you to account
if you secretly showed partiality.(O)
11 Would not his splendor(P) terrify you?
Would not the dread of him fall on you?(Q)
12 Your maxims are proverbs of ashes;
your defenses are defenses of clay.(R)
13 “Keep silent(S) and let me speak;(T)
then let come to me what may.(U)
14 Why do I put myself in jeopardy
and take my life in my hands?(V)
15 Though he slay me, yet will I hope(W) in him;(X)
I will surely[a] defend my ways to his face.(Y)
16 Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance,(Z)
for no godless(AA) person would dare come before him!(AB)
17 Listen carefully to what I say;(AC)
let my words ring in your ears.
18 Now that I have prepared my case,(AD)
I know I will be vindicated.(AE)
19 Can anyone bring charges against me?(AF)
If so, I will be silent(AG) and die.(AH)
20 “Only grant me these two things, God,
and then I will not hide from you:
21 Withdraw your hand(AI) far from me,
and stop frightening me with your terrors.(AJ)
22 Then summon me and I will answer,(AK)
or let me speak, and you reply to me.(AL)
23 How many wrongs and sins have I committed?(AM)
Show me my offense and my sin.(AN)
24 Why do you hide your face(AO)
and consider me your enemy?(AP)
25 Will you torment(AQ) a windblown leaf?(AR)
Will you chase(AS) after dry chaff?(AT)
26 For you write down bitter things against me
and make me reap the sins of my youth.(AU)
27 You fasten my feet in shackles;(AV)
you keep close watch on all my paths(AW)
by putting marks on the soles of my feet.
Footnotes
- Job 13:15 Or He will surely slay me; I have no hope — / yet I will
Job 13
Christian Standard Bible Anglicised
Job 13
Christian Standard Bible Anglicised
13 Look, my eyes have seen all this;
my ears(A) have heard and understood it.
2 Everything you know, I also know;
I am not inferior to you.(B)
3 Yet I prefer to speak to the Almighty
and argue my case before God.(C)
4 You use lies like plaster;
you are all worthless healers.(D)
5 If only you would shut up
and let that be your wisdom!
6 Hear now my argument,
and listen to my defence.[a]
7 Would you testify unjustly on God’s behalf
or speak deceitfully for him?
8 Would you show partiality(E) to him
or argue the case in his defence?
9 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 defences are made of clay.
13 Be quiet,[b] and I will speak.
Let whatever comes happen to me.
14 I will put[c] myself at risk[d]
and take my life in my own hands.
15 Even if he kills me, I will hope in him.[e]
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?[f]
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[g] of my feet.
28 A person wears out like something rotten,
like a moth-eaten garment.(P)
Revised Standard Version (RSV)
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Living Bible (TLB)
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
Christian Standard Bible Anglicised (CSBA)
Copyright © 2024 by Holman Bible Publishers.