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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.

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13 “Be silent now and leave me alone.
    Let me speak, and I will face the consequences.
14 Why should I put myself in mortal danger[a]
    and take my life in my own hands?
15 God might kill me, but I have no other hope.[b]
    I am going to argue my case with him.
16 But this is what will save me—I am not godless.
    If I were, I could not stand before him.

17 “Listen closely to what I am about to say.
    Hear me out.
18 I have prepared my case;
    I will be proved innocent.
19 Who can argue with me over this?
    And if you prove me wrong, I will remain silent and die.

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Footnotes

  1. 13:14 Hebrew Why should I take my flesh in my teeth.
  2. 13:15 An alternate reading in the Masoretic Text reads God might kill me, but I hope in him.