Job 13

¹Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it. ²What ye know, the samedo I know also: I am not inferior unto you. ³Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God. ⁴But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value. ⁵Oh that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom. ⁶Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips. ⁷Will ye speak unrighteously for God, and talk deceitfully for him? ⁸Will ye respect his person? will ye contend for God? ⁹Is it good that he should search you out? or as one deceiveth a man, will ye deceive him? ¹⁰He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly respect persons. ¹¹Shall not his excellency make you afraid, and his dread fall upon you? ¹²Your memorable sayings areproverbs of ashes, your defences aredefences of clay. ¹³Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what wilt. ¹⁴Wherefore should I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand? ¹⁵Though he slay me, yet will I wait for him: nevertheless I will maintain my ways before him. ¹⁶This also shall be my salvation; for a godless man shall not come before him. ¹⁷Hear diligently my speech, and let my declaration be in your ears. ¹⁸Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I am righteous. ¹⁹Who is he that will contend with me? for now shall I hold my peace and give up the ghost. ²⁰Only do not two things unto me, then will I not hide myself from thy face: ²¹Withdraw thine hand far from me; and let not thy terror make me afraid. ²²Then call thou, and I will answer; or let me speak, and answer thou me. ²³How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin. ²⁴Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy? ²⁵Wilt thou harass a driven leaf? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble? ²⁶For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to inherit the iniquities of my youth: ²⁷Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and markest all my paths; thou drawest thee a line about the soles of my feet: ²⁸Though I am like a rotten thing that consumeth, like a garment that is moth-eaten.