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13 ¶ Behold, my eyes have seen all this; my ears have heard and understood it.

As you know it, I know it; I am not inferior unto you.

But I would speak with the Almighty, and I desired to dispute with God.

That ye are certainly forgers of lies; ye are all physicians of no value.

O that ye would altogether be silent! And it would be unto you instead of wisdom.

Hear now my dispute, and hearken to the arguments of my lips.

Are ye to speak iniquity for God? Are ye to speak deceitfully for him?

Are ye to bring honour unto him? Are ye to contend for God?

Would it be good for him to search you out? As one man mocks another, do ye so mock him?

10 He will reprove you severely, if in secret you give him such honour.

11 Certainly his excellency should make you afraid, and his dread should fall upon you.

12 Your memories shall be compared unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.

13 ¶ Listen to me, and I will speak, and afterward let come on me what will.

14 Why shall I take my flesh in my teeth and put my life in the palm of my hand?

15 Though he slay me, yet I will trust in him; but I will defend my ways before him.

16 He also shall be my saving health; for the hypocrite shall not enter into his presence.

17 Hear diligently my reason and my declaration with your ears.

18 Behold now, if I draw near unto the judgment; I know that I shall be justified.

19 Who is he that will contend with me? For now, if I remain silent, I shall die.

20 At the least, grant me these two things; then I will not hide myself from thee:

21 withdraw thy hand from me; and let not thy dread make me afraid.

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

23 ¶ How many are my iniquities and sins? Make me to know my transgression and my sin.

24 Why dost thou hide thy face, and hold me for thine enemy?

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

26 Why dost thou write bitter things against me and make me carry the iniquities of my youth.

27 Thou dost put my feet also in the stocks and look narrowly unto all my paths; thou dost set a print upon the heels of my feet.

28 And man, is as a rotten thing that is being consumed, as a garment that is moth eaten.

Job Continues: Still I Will Hope in God

13 “Behold, my eye has seen all this,
    my ear has heard and understood it.
(A)What you know, I also know;
    I am not inferior to you.
(B)But I would speak to the Almighty,
    and I desire to (C)argue my case with God.
As for you, (D)you whitewash with lies;
    (E)worthless physicians are you all.
Oh that you would (F)keep silent,
    and it would be your wisdom!
Hear now my argument
    and listen to the pleadings of my lips.
Will you (G)speak falsely for God
    and speak (H)deceitfully for him?
Will you show partiality toward him?
    Will you (I)plead the case for God?
Will it be well with you when he (J)searches you out?
    Or (K)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 (L)majesty terrify you,
    and the dread of him fall upon you?
12 Your maxims are proverbs of (M)ashes;
    your defenses are defenses of clay.

13 “Let me have silence, and I will speak,
    and let come on me what may.
14 Why should I take my flesh in my teeth
    and (N)put my life in my hand?
15 (O)Though he slay me, I will (P)hope in him;[a]
    yet I will (Q)argue my ways to his face.
16 This will be my salvation,
    that the godless shall not come before him.
17 (R)Keep listening to my words,
    and let my declaration be in your ears.
18 Behold, I have (S)prepared my case;
    I know that I shall be in the right.
19 (T)Who is there who will contend with me?
    For then I would be silent and die.
20 Only grant me two things,
    then I will not (U)hide myself from your face:
21 (V)withdraw your hand far from me,
    and let not (W)dread of you terrify me.
22 (X)Then call, and I will answer;
    or let me speak, and you reply to me.
23 How many are my iniquities and my sins?
    (Y)Make me know my transgression and my sin.
24 Why (Z)do you hide your face
    and (AA)count me as your enemy?
25 Will you frighten (AB)a driven leaf
    and pursue dry (AC)chaff?
26 For you (AD)write bitter things against me
    and make me inherit (AE)the iniquities of my youth.
27 You put my feet in (AF)the stocks
    and (AG)watch all my paths;
    you set a limit for[b] the soles of my feet.
28 Man[c] wastes away like (AH)a rotten thing,
    like a garment that is (AI)moth-eaten.

Footnotes

  1. Job 13:15 Or Behold, he will slay me; I have no hope
  2. Job 13:27 Or you marked
  3. Job 13:28 Hebrew He