13 [Job continued:] Behold, my eye has seen all this, my ear has heard and understood it.

² What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you.

³ Surely I wish to speak to the Almighty, and I desire to argue and reason my case with God [that He may explain the conflict between what I believe of Him and what I see of Him].

⁴ But you are forgers of lies [you defame my character most untruthfully]; you are all physicians of no value and have no remedy to offer.

⁵ Oh, that you would altogether hold your peace! Then you would evidence your wisdom and you might pass for wise men.

⁶ Hear now my reasoning, and listen to the pleadings of my lips.

⁷ Will you speak unrighteously for God and talk deceitfully for Him?

⁸ Will you show partiality to Him [be unjust to me in order to gain favor with Him]? Will you act as special pleaders for God?

⁹ Would it be profitable for you if He should investigate your tactics [with me]? Or as one deceives and mocks a man, do you deceive and mock Him?

¹⁰ He will surely reprove you if you do secretly show partiality.

¹¹ Shall not His majesty make you afraid, and should not your awe for Him restrain you?

¹² Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes [valueless]; your defenses are defenses of clay [and will crumble].

¹³ Hold your peace! Let me alone, so I may speak; and let come on me what may.

¹⁴ Why should I take my flesh in my teeth and put my life in my hands [incurring the danger of God’s wrath]?

¹⁵ [I do it because, though He slay me, yet will I wait for and trust Him and] behold, He will slay me; I have no hope—nevertheless, I will maintain and argue my ways before Him and even to His face.

¹⁶ This will be my salvation, that a polluted and godless man shall not come before Him.

¹⁷ Listen diligently to my speech, and let my declaration be in your ears.

¹⁸ Behold now, I have prepared my case; I know that I shall be justified and vindicated.

¹⁹ Who is he who will argue against and refute me? For then I would hold my peace and expire.

²⁰ Only [O Lord] grant two conditions to me, and then will I not hide myself from You:

²¹ Withdraw Your hand and take this bodily suffering far from me; and let not my [reverent] dread of You terrify me.

²² Then [Lord] call and I will answer, or let me speak, and You answer me.

²³ How many are my iniquities and sins [that so much sorrow should come to me]? Make me recognize and know my transgression and my sin.^(A)

²⁴ Why do You hide Your face [as if offended] and alienate me as if I were Your enemy?

²⁵ Will You harass and frighten a [poor, helpless] leaf driven to and fro, and will You pursue the chaff of the dry stubble?

²⁶ For You write bitter things against me [in Your bill of indictment] and make me inherit and be accountable now for the iniquities of my youth.

²⁷ You put my feet also in the stocks and observe critically all my paths; You set a circle and limit around the soles of my feet [which I must not overstep].

²⁸ And he wastes away as a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten.