Job 13

Job Pleads His Cause to God¹

13:1 “Indeed, my eyes have seen all this,²

my ears have heard and understood it.

13:2 What you know,³ I⁴ know also;

I am not inferior⁵ to you!

13:3 But I wish to speak⁶ to the Almighty,⁷

and I desire to argue⁸ my case⁹ with God.

13:4 But you, however, are inventors of lies;¹⁰

all of you are worthless physicians!¹¹

13:5 If only you would keep completely silent!¹²

For you, that would be wisdom.¹³

13:6 “Listen now to my argument,¹⁴

and be attentive to my lips’ contentions.¹⁵

13:7 Will you speak wickedly¹⁶ on God’s behalf?¹⁷

Will you speak deceitfully for him?

13:8 Will you show him partiality?¹⁸

Will you argue the case¹⁹ for God?

13:9 Would it turn out well if he would examine²⁰ you?

Or as one deceives²¹ a man would you deceive him?

13:10 He would certainly rebuke²² you

if you secretly²³ showed partiality!

13:11 Would not his splendor²⁴ terrify²⁵ you

and the fear he inspires²⁶ fall on you?

13:12 Your maxims²⁷ are proverbs of ashes;²⁸

your defenses²⁹ are defenses of clay.³⁰

13:13 “Refrain from talking³¹ with me so that³² I may speak;

then let come to me³³ what may.³⁴

13:14 Why³⁵ do I put myself in peril,³⁶

and take my life in my hands?

13:15 Even if he slays me, I will hope in him;³⁷

I will surely³⁸ defend³⁹ my ways to his face!

13:16 Moreover, this will become my deliverance,

for no godless person would come before him.⁴⁰

13:17 Listen carefully⁴¹ to my words;

let your ears be attentive to my explanation.⁴²

13:18 See now,⁴³ I have prepared⁴⁴ my⁴⁵ case;⁴⁶

I know that I am right.⁴⁷

13:19 Who⁴⁸ will contend with me?

If anyone can, I will be silent and die.⁴⁹

13:20 Only in two things spare me,⁵⁰ O God,⁵¹

and then I will not hide from your face:

13:21 Remove⁵² your hand⁵³ far from me

and stop making me afraid with your terror.⁵⁴

13:22 Then call,⁵⁵ and I will answer,

or I will speak, and you respond to me.

13:23 How many are my⁵⁶ iniquities and sins?

Show me my transgression and my sin.⁵⁷

13:24 Why do you hide your face⁵⁸

and regard me as your enemy?

13:25 Do you wish to torment⁵⁹ a windblown⁶⁰ leaf

and chase after dry chaff?⁶¹

13:26 For you write down⁶² bitter things against me

and cause me to inherit the sins of my youth.⁶³

13:27 And you put my feet in the stocks⁶⁴

and you watch all my movements;⁶⁵

you put marks⁶⁶ on the soles of my feet.

13:28 So I⁶⁷ waste away like something rotten,⁶⁸

like a garment eaten by moths.

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