Job 13
Tree of Life Version
Job Challenges God
13 “Indeed, my eye has seen it all,
my ears have heard and understood it.
2 What you know, I also know;
I am not inferior to you.
3 Still, I desire to speak to Shaddai
and to argue my case with God.
4 You, however, smear me with lies;
you are worthless doctors—all of you!
5 If only you would keep completely silent!
For you, that would be wisdom.
6 Hear now my argument;
listen to the contentions of my lips.
7 Will you speak unjustly on God’s behalf?
Will you speak deceitfully for Him?
8 Will you show Him partiality?
Will you argue the case for God?
9 Would it turn out well if He examined you?
Could you deceive Him as you deceive a man?
10 He would surely rebuke you
if you secretly showed favoritism.
11 Would not His majesty terrify you
and the dread of Him fall on you?
12 Your maxims are proverbs of ashes;
your defenses are defenses of clay.
13 Be silent and let me speak;
then let come to me what may.
14 Why should I take my flesh in my teeth
and take my life in my hands?
15 Even if He slays me, I will wait for Him;
I will surely defend my ways before Him.
16 This, too, will be my salvation
for no godless can come before Him.
17 “Listen carefully to my words,
and let my declaration be in your ears.
18 See now, I have prepared my case;
I know that I will be vindicated.
19 Who will contend with me?
If so, I will be silent and die.
20 “Only two things do not do to me;
then I will not hide from Your face:
21 withdraw Your hand far from me,
and do not assail me with Your terror.
22 Then call, and I will answer,
or I will speak, and You respond to me.
23 How many are my iniquities and sins?
Show me my transgressions and sin.
24 Why do You hide Your face
and consider me Your enemy?
25 Will You frighten a windblown leaf
and chase after dry chaff?
26 For You write bitter things against me
and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.
27 You put my feet in shackles and watch all my paths;
You put marks on the soles of my feet.
28 “So he wastes away
like something rotten,
like a moth-eaten garment.
Job 13
Easy-to-Read Version
13 “I have seen all this before.
I have already heard everything you say.
I understand all these things.
2 I know as much as you do.
I am as smart as you are.
3 But I don’t want to argue with you.
I want to speak to God All-Powerful.
I want to argue with God about my troubles.
4 But you men try to cover up your ignorance with lies.
You are like worthless doctors who cannot heal anyone.
5 I wish you would just be quiet.
That would be the wisest thing you could do.
6 “Now, listen to my argument.
Listen to what I have to say.
7 Will you speak lies for God?
Do you really believe your lies are what God wants you to say?
8 Are you trying to defend God against me?
You are not being fair.
You are choosing God’s side simply because he is God.
9 If God checked you very closely,
would he see that you are right?
Do you really think you can fool God
the same as you fool people?
10 You know that God would criticize you
if you chose someone’s side simply because they were important.
11 God’s majesty frightens you.
You are afraid of him.
12 The wise sayings you quote are worthless.
Your arguments are as weak as clay.
13 “Be quiet and let me talk!
I accept whatever happens to me.
14 I will put myself in danger
and take my life in my own hands.
15 I will continue to trust God even if he kills me.[a]
But I will defend myself to his face.
16 And if he lets me live, it will be because I had the confidence to speak.
No guilty person would dare meet God face to face.
17 Listen carefully to what I say.
Let me explain.
18 I am ready now to defend myself.
I will carefully present my arguments.
I know I will be shown to be right.
19 If anyone can prove I am wrong,
I will shut up and wait to die.
20 “God, just give me two things,
and then I will not hide from you:
21 Stop punishing me,
and don’t frighten me with your terrors.
22 Then call to me, and I will answer you.
Or let me speak, and you answer me.
23 How many sins have I committed?
What wrongs have I done?
Show me where I went wrong or how I sinned.
24 God, why do you avoid me
and treat me like your enemy?
25 Are you trying to scare me?
I am only a leaf blowing in the wind.
You are attacking a piece of straw!
26 You have a list of terrible charges against me.
Are you making me suffer for the sins I did when I was young?
27 You have put chains on my feet.
You watch every step I take.
You see every move I make.
28 So I am becoming weaker and weaker,
like a piece of wood rotting away,
like a piece of cloth eaten by moths.
Footnotes
- Job 13:15 I will … kills me Or “If he decides to kill me, I have no hope.”
Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.
Copyright © 2006 by Bible League International