Job 13

¹Look, my eyes have seen all this;

my ears ^a have heard and understood it.

²Everything you know, I also know;

I am not inferior to you. ^b

³Yet I prefer to speak to the Almighty

and argue my case before God. ^c

⁴You use lies like plaster;

you are all worthless healers. ^d

⁵If only you would shut up

and let that be your wisdom!

⁶Hear now my argument,

and listen to my defense. ^e

⁷Would you testify unjustly on God’s behalf

or speak deceitfully for him?

⁸Would you show partiality ^f to him

or argue the case in his defense?

⁹Would it go well if he examined you?

Could you deceive him as you would deceive a man? ^g

¹⁰Surely he would rebuke you

if you secretly showed partiality.

¹¹Would God’s majesty not terrify you? ^h

Would his dread not fall on you?

¹²Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ash; ⁱ

your defenses are made of clay.

¹³Be quiet, ^j and I will speak.

Let whatever comes happen to me.

¹⁴I will put ^k myself at risk ^l

and take my life in my own hands.

¹⁵Even if he kills me, I will hope in him. ^m

I will still defend ⁿ my ways before him.

¹⁶Yes, this will result in my deliverance,

for no godless person ^o can appear before him.

¹⁷Pay close attention to my words;

let my declaration ring in your ears.

¹⁸Now then, I have prepared my case; ^p

I know that I am right.

¹⁹Can anyone indict me?

If so, I will be silent and die.

²⁰Only grant these two things to me, God,

so that I will not have to hide from your presence:

²¹remove your hand from me,

and do not let your terror frighten me. ^q

²²Then call, and I will answer, ^r

or I will speak, and you can respond to me.

²³How many iniquities ^s and sins have I committed? ^t

Reveal to me my transgression and sin.

²⁴Why do you hide your face

and consider me your enemy? ^u

²⁵Will you frighten a wind-driven leaf?

Will you chase after dry straw?

²⁶For you record bitter accusations against me

and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.

²⁷You put my feet in the stocks

and stand watch over all my paths,

setting a limit for the soles ^v of my feet.

²⁸A person wears out like something rotten,

like a moth-eaten garment. ^w