Job 13
BRG Bible
13 Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it.
2 What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you.
3 Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.
4 But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.
5 O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.
6 Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.
7 Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?
8 Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God?
9 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.
Job 13
Evangelical Heritage Version
13 My eyes have certainly seen all this.
My ears have heard it and understood it.
2 Whatever you know, I know every bit as well.
I do not fall short of you in any way.
3 But I want to speak to the Almighty.
I am eager to argue my case with God.
4 All you do is plaster over problems[a] with lies.
Such useless healers, all of you!
5 I wish you would shut up completely.
For you, that would be wisdom!
6 But now, listen to my rebuttal.
Pay attention to the arguments from my lips.
7 Will you misrepresent God?[b]
Will you speak deceitfully about him?
8 Will you show favoritism on behalf of God
and argue his case for him?
9 Will it turn out well when he cross-examines you?
Can you fool God as you can fool a man?
10 He will certainly rule against you if you hide your favoritism.
11 Won’t God’s majesty frighten you?
Won’t the dread he inspires overwhelm you?
12 Your axioms are proverbs made of ashes.
Your strong points are made of clay.
13 Silence! Let me speak.
I intend to speak up, no matter what happens.
14 Why do I bite my flesh with my teeth?
Why do I take my life in my hands?
15 Even if he slays me, I will wait for him with hope.[c]
No matter what, I will defend my ways to his face.
16 Even this may turn out for my salvation,
for no godless person would dare to face him.
17 Listen carefully to my words!
Give my testimony a hearing.
18 Please, listen. I have laid out my case.
I know that I am innocent.
19 Who can make a case against me?
If anyone can, I will be quiet and die.
20 Just do two things for me, God.
If you do, I will not hide from your face.
21 Take your hands off me,
and do not terrify me with your grandeur.[d]
22 Summon me, and I will answer.
Or, I will speak, and you can respond to me.
23 How much guilt and how many sins do I have?
Reveal my rebellion and my sin to me.
24 Why do you hide your face?
Why do you treat me like your enemy?
25 Will you toss me around[e] like a wind-blown leaf?
Will you chase me away like dry chaff?
26 You write bitter accusations against me,
and you hold me accountable for the guilt of my youth.
27 You lock my feet in stocks
and station guards along all my paths.
You put your brand on the soles of my feet.
28 So a man rots away like a garment eaten by moths.
Job 13
Common English Bible
Self-defense
13 Look, my eye has seen it all;
my ear has heard and understood it.
2 Just as you know, I also know;
I’m not inferior to you.
3 But I want to speak to the Almighty;
I would gladly present my case to God.
Friends attacked
4 You, however, are plasterers of lies;
ineffective healers, all of you.
5 Would that you were completely quiet;
that would be your wisdom.
6 Hear my teaching
and pay attention to the arguments of my lips.
7 Will you speak injustice for God,
speak deceit on his behalf?
8 Will you be partial
or contend for God?
9 Will it go well when he searches you,
or can you fool him as you fool people?
10 He will certainly correct you
if you’ve been secretly partial.
11 Wouldn’t his majesty scare you
and dread of him fall on you?
12 Your old sayings are proverbs made of ashes,
your sayings defenses made of clay.
Job will speak out
13 Be quiet and I will speak,
come what may.
14 For what reason will I take my flesh in my teeth,
put my life in jeopardy?
15 He will slay me; I’m without hope;[a]
I will surely prove my way to his face.
16 Also this will be my vindication,
that a godless person won’t come before him.
17 Listen closely to my words
so that my remarks will be in your ears.
Against God
18 Look, I have laid out my case;
I know that I’m innocent.
19 Who would dare contend with me,
for then I would be quiet and die.
20 Only don’t do two things to me,
then I won’t hide from your face.
21 Remove your hand far from me
and don’t terrify me with your anger.
22 Then call and I’ll answer,
or I’ll speak and you can reply.
23 How many are my offenses and sins?
Inform me about my rebellions and sins.
24 Why hide your face from me
and consider me your enemy?
25 Will you cause a wind-tossed leaf to tremble, or will you pursue dry straw?
26 You even write bitter things about me,
make me inherit my youthful indiscretions.
27 You tie up my feet and restrict all actions;
you stamp marks on the bottom of my feet.
Human destiny
28 Surely a person wastes away like refuse,
like clothing that a moth eats.
Footnotes
- Job 13:15 Or Though he slay me, yet I will trust him.
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Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible