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13 My eyes have certainly seen all this.
My ears have heard it and understood it.
Whatever you know, I know every bit as well.
I do not fall short of you in any way.

But I want to speak to the Almighty.
I am eager to argue my case with God.
All you do is plaster over problems[a] with lies.
Such useless healers, all of you!
I wish you would shut up completely.
For you, that would be wisdom!

But now, listen to my rebuttal.
Pay attention to the arguments from my lips.
Will you misrepresent God?[b]
Will you speak deceitfully about him?
Will you show favoritism on behalf of God
and argue his case for him?
Will it turn out well when he cross-examines you?
Can you fool God as you can fool a man?
10 He will certainly rule against you if you hide your favoritism.
11 Won’t God’s majesty frighten you?
Won’t the dread he inspires overwhelm you?
12 Your axioms are proverbs made of ashes.
Your strong points are made of clay.

13 Silence! Let me speak.
I intend to speak up, no matter what happens.
14 Why do I bite my flesh with my teeth?
Why do I take my life in my hands?
15 Even if he slays me, I will wait for him with hope.[c]
No matter what, I will defend my ways to his face.
16 Even this may turn out for my salvation,
for no godless person would dare to face him.
17 Listen carefully to my words!
Give my testimony a hearing.
18 Please, listen. I have laid out my case.
I know that I am innocent.
19 Who can make a case against me?
If anyone can, I will be quiet and die.

20 Just do two things for me, God.
If you do, I will not hide from your face.
21 Take your hands off me,
and do not terrify me with your grandeur.[d]
22 Summon me, and I will answer.
Or, I will speak, and you can respond to me.
23 How much guilt and how many sins do I have?
Reveal my rebellion and my sin to me.
24 Why do you hide your face?
Why do you treat me like your enemy?
25 Will you toss me around[e] like a wind-blown leaf?
Will you chase me away like dry chaff?
26 You write bitter accusations against me,
and you hold me accountable for the guilt of my youth.
27 You lock my feet in stocks
and station guards along all my paths.
You put your brand on the soles of my feet.

28 So a man rots away like a garment eaten by moths.

Footnotes

  1. Job 13:4 Or plaster me
  2. Job 13:7 Or will you charge injustice to God
  3. Job 13:15 Hebrew variant if he slays me, I will be without hope
  4. Job 13:21 Or transcendence or horrors
  5. Job 13:25 Literally torment me

13 “My eyes have seen all this,(A)
    my ears have heard and understood it.
What you know, I also know;
    I am not inferior to you.(B)
But I desire to speak to the Almighty(C)
    and to argue my case with God.(D)
You, however, smear me with lies;(E)
    you are worthless physicians,(F) all of you!(G)
If only you would be altogether silent!(H)
    For you, that would be wisdom.(I)
Hear now my argument;
    listen to the pleas of my lips.(J)
Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf?
    Will you speak deceitfully for him?(K)
Will you show him partiality?(L)
    Will you argue the case for God?
Would it turn out well if he examined you?(M)
    Could you deceive him as you might deceive a mortal?(N)
10 He would surely call you to account
    if you secretly showed partiality.(O)
11 Would not his splendor(P) terrify you?
    Would not the dread of him fall on you?(Q)
12 Your maxims are proverbs of ashes;
    your defenses are defenses of clay.(R)

13 “Keep silent(S) and let me speak;(T)
    then let come to me what may.(U)
14 Why do I put myself in jeopardy
    and take my life in my hands?(V)
15 Though he slay me, yet will I hope(W) in him;(X)
    I will surely[a] defend my ways to his face.(Y)
16 Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance,(Z)
    for no godless(AA) person would dare come before him!(AB)
17 Listen carefully to what I say;(AC)
    let my words ring in your ears.
18 Now that I have prepared my case,(AD)
    I know I will be vindicated.(AE)
19 Can anyone bring charges against me?(AF)
    If so, I will be silent(AG) and die.(AH)

20 “Only grant me these two things, God,
    and then I will not hide from you:
21 Withdraw your hand(AI) far from me,
    and stop frightening me with your terrors.(AJ)
22 Then summon me and I will answer,(AK)
    or let me speak, and you reply to me.(AL)
23 How many wrongs and sins have I committed?(AM)
    Show me my offense and my sin.(AN)
24 Why do you hide your face(AO)
    and consider me your enemy?(AP)
25 Will you torment(AQ) a windblown leaf?(AR)
    Will you chase(AS) after dry chaff?(AT)
26 For you write down bitter things against me
    and make me reap the sins of my youth.(AU)
27 You fasten my feet in shackles;(AV)
    you keep close watch on all my paths(AW)
    by putting marks on the soles of my feet.

28 “So man wastes away like something rotten,
    like a garment(AX) eaten by moths.(AY)

Footnotes

  1. Job 13:15 Or He will surely slay me; I have no hope — / yet I will