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13 “Lo, my eye has seen all this, my ear has heard and understood it.

What you know, I also know;
    I am not inferior to you.
But I would speak to the Almighty,
    and I desire to argue my case with God.
As for you, you whitewash with lies;
    worthless physicians are you all.
Oh that you would keep silent,
    and it would be your wisdom!
Hear now my reasoning,
    and listen to the pleadings of my lips.
Will you speak falsely for God,
    and speak deceitfully for him?
Will you show partiality toward him,
    will you plead the case for God?
Will it be well with you when he searches you out?
    Or can you deceive him, as one deceives a man?
10 He will surely rebuke you
    if in secret you show partiality.
11 Will not his majesty terrify you,
    and the dread of him fall upon you?
12 Your maxims are proverbs of ashes,
    your defenses are defenses of clay.

13 “Let me have silence, and I will speak,
    and let come on me what may.
14 I will take[a] my flesh in my teeth,
    and put my life in my hand.
15 Behold, he will slay me; I have no hope;
    yet I will defend my ways to his face.
16 This will be my salvation,
    that a godless man shall not come before him.
17 Listen carefully to my words,
    and let my declaration be in your ears.
18 Behold, I have prepared my case;
    I know that I shall be vindicated.
19 Who is there that will contend with me?
    For then I would be silent and die.

Job’s Despondent Prayer

20 Only grant two things to me,
    then I will not hide myself from thy face:
21 withdraw thy hand far from me,
    and let not dread of thee terrify me.
22 Then call, and I will answer;
    or let me speak, and do thou reply to me.
23 How many are my iniquities and my sins?
    Make me know my transgression and my sin.
24 Why dost thou hide thy face,
    and count me as thy enemy?
25 Wilt thou frighten a driven leaf
    and pursue dry chaff?
26 For thou writest bitter things against me,
    and makest me inherit the iniquities of my youth.
27 Thou puttest my feet in the stocks,
    and watchest all my paths;
    thou settest a bound to the soles of my feet.
28 Man[b] wastes away like a rotten thing,
    like a garment that is moth-eaten.

Footnotes

  1. Job 13:14 Gk: Heb Why should I take?
  2. Job 13:28 Heb He

13 Look, my eyes have seen all this;
my ears(A) have heard and understood it.
Everything you know, I also know;
I am not inferior to you.(B)
Yet I prefer to speak to the Almighty
and argue my case before God.(C)
But you coat the truth with lies;
you are all worthless doctors.(D)
If only you would shut up
and let that be your wisdom!

Hear now my argument,
and listen to my defense.[a]
Would you testify unjustly on God’s behalf
or speak deceitfully for Him?
Would you show partiality(E) to Him
or argue the case in His defense?
Would it go well if He examined you?
Could you deceive Him as you would deceive a man?(F)
10 Surely He would rebuke you
if you secretly showed partiality.
11 Would God’s majesty not terrify you?(G)
Would His dread not fall on you?
12 Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ash;(H)
your defenses are made of clay.

13 Be quiet,[b] and I will speak.
Let whatever comes happen to me.
14 Why do I put myself at risk[c]
and take my life in my own hands?
15 Even if He kills me, I will hope in Him.[d]
I will still defend(I) my ways before Him.
16 Yes, this will result in my deliverance,
for no godless person(J) can appear before Him.
17 Pay close attention to my words;
let my declaration ring in your ears.
18 Now then, I have prepared my case;(K)
I know that I am right.
19 Can anyone indict me?
If so, I will be silent and die.

20 Only grant these two things to me, God,
so that I will not have to hide from Your presence:
21 remove Your hand from me,
and do not let Your terror frighten me.(L)
22 Then call, and I will answer,(M)
or I will speak, and You can respond to me.
23 How many iniquities(N) and sins have I committed?[e]
Reveal to me my transgression and sin.
24 Why do You hide Your face
and consider me Your enemy?(O)
25 Will You frighten a wind-driven leaf?
Will You chase after dry straw?
26 For You record bitter accusations against me
and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.
27 You put my feet in the stocks
and stand watch over all my paths,
setting a limit for the soles[f] of my feet.

28 Man wears out like something rotten,
like a moth-eaten garment.(P)

Footnotes

  1. Job 13:6 Lit to the claims of my lips
  2. Job 13:13 Lit quiet before me
  3. Job 13:14 Lit I take my flesh in my teeth
  4. Job 13:15 Some Hb mss read I will be without hope
  5. Job 13:23 Lit sins are to me
  6. Job 13:27 Lit paths. You mark a line around the roots