Job 13

¹“My eyes have seen all this,

my ears have heard and understood it.

²What you know, I also know;

I am not inferior to you.

³But I desire to speak to the Almighty

and to argue my case with God.

⁴You, however, smear me with lies;

you are worthless physicians, all of you!

⁵If only you would be altogether silent!

For you, that would be wisdom.

⁶Hear now my argument;

listen to the pleas of my lips.

⁷Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf?

Will you speak deceitfully for him?

⁸Will you show him partiality?

Will you argue the case for God?

⁹Would it turn out well if he examined you?

Could you deceive him as you might deceive a mortal?

¹⁰He would surely call you to account

if you secretly showed partiality.

¹¹Would not his splendor terrify you?

Would not the dread of him fall on you?

¹²Your maxims are proverbs of ashes;

your defenses are defenses of clay.

¹³“Keep silent and let me speak;

then let come to me what may.

¹⁴Why do I put myself in jeopardy

and take my life in my hands?

¹⁵Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him;

I will surely defend my ways to his face.

¹⁶Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance,

for no godless person would dare come before him!

¹⁷Listen carefully to what I say;

let my words ring in your ears.

¹⁸Now that I have prepared my case,

I know I will be vindicated.

¹⁹Can anyone bring charges against me?

If so, I will be silent and die.

²⁰“Only grant me these two things, God,

and then I will not hide from you:

²¹Withdraw your hand far from me,

and stop frightening me with your terrors.

²²Then summon me and I will answer,

or let me speak, and you reply to me.

²³How many wrongs and sins have I committed?

Show me my offense and my sin.

²⁴Why do you hide your face

and consider me your enemy?

²⁵Will you torment a windblown leaf?

Will you chase after dry chaff?

²⁶For you write down bitter things against me

and make me reap the sins of my youth.

²⁷You fasten my feet in shackles;

you keep close watch on all my paths

by putting marks on the soles of my feet.

²⁸“So man wastes away like something rotten,

like a garment eaten by moths.