Font Size
Job 13
International Standard Version
Job 13
International Standard Version
Job Begins to Argues His Case
13 “Look, I’ve seen everything;
I’ve listened carefully and I understand.
2 What you know, I know, too;
I’m not inferior to you.
3 But I want to talk to the Almighty;
and I’m determined to argue my case[a] before God.”
Job Accuses His Friends
4 “But as for you, you whitewash with lies;
all of you are worthless quacks.[b]
5 I wish you’d all just shut up.
Then at least you would appear to be wise.
6 “Now listen to my dispute!
Pay attention to my arguments.[c]
7 Why do you speak falsely on God’s behalf
and speak deceitfully[d] about him?
8 Will you show partiality to him?[e]
Will you plead God’s case?
9 Will things go well for you under his cross-examination?
Can you lie to him, as you would to a human being?[f]
10 “He will be sure to rebuke you,
if you show partiality[g] in secret.
11 His splendor will petrify you with terror,
paralyzing you with fear, won’t it?
12 Your maxims are just worthless proverbs;
your defensive arguments are made of clay.”
Job Resolves to Present His Case
13 “Don’t talk to me! It’s my turn to speak;
then whatever happens, happens.
14 Why shouldn’t I bite my flesh
or take my life in my hands?
15 Even though he kills me,
I’ll continue to hope in him.
At least I’ll be able to argue my case[h] to his face!
16 I have this as my salvation:
the godless person won’t be appearing before him.
17 Pay attention[i] to what I have to say
and listen to my testimony with your own ears.”
Job Presents His Conditions
18 “Look, now! I’ve prepared my case for court.[j]
I know that I’m going to win.[k]
19 Who can oppose me?
If they do, I’ll be silent and die.
20 Grant me only two things as you deal with me;
then I won’t hide from you.[l]
21 Withdraw your hand far from me
and keep me from being petrified with terror.
22 Then call and I’ll answer,
or let me speak and then you reply to me!”
Job Presents Himself for Cross-Examination
23 “How many of my iniquities and sins have you counted?
Show me my transgression and sin.
24 Why do you hide your face
and regard me as your enemy?
25 Are you a god who would make a leaf tremble
or who would prosecute a dry straw?
26 You’ve accused me of bitter things;
you’ve caused me to reap[m] the sins of my youth.
27 You’ve locked my feet in stocks;
you watch all my steps;
You’ve limited where I can walk.[n]
28 So I’m a man who wears out like something rotten,
like a garment that has become moth-eaten.”
Footnotes
- Job 13:3 The Heb. lacks my case
- Job 13:4 Lit. physicians
- Job 13:6 Lit. arguments of my lips
- Job 13:7 Or treachery
- Job 13:8 Lit. lift up his face
- Job 13:9 Lit. mankind
- Job 13:10 Lit. you lift up the face
- Job 13:15 Or way
- Job 13:17 Lit. listen, to listen
- Job 13:18 Or judgment
- Job 13:18 Lit. I’m in the right
- Job 13:20 Lit. from your face
- Job 13:26 Lit. inherit
- Job 13:27 Lit. limited the soles of my feet
Job 13
New International Version
Job 13
New International Version
13 “My eyes have seen all this,(A)
my ears have heard and understood it.
2 What you know, I also know;
I am not inferior to you.(B)
3 But I desire to speak to the Almighty(C)
and to argue my case with God.(D)
4 You, however, smear me with lies;(E)
you are worthless physicians,(F) all of you!(G)
5 If only you would be altogether silent!(H)
For you, that would be wisdom.(I)
6 Hear now my argument;
listen to the pleas of my lips.(J)
7 Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf?
Will you speak deceitfully for him?(K)
8 Will you show him partiality?(L)
Will you argue the case for God?
9 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.
Footnotes
- Job 13:15 Or He will surely slay me; I have no hope — / yet I will
Job 13
King James Version
Job 13
King James Version
13 Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it.
2 What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you.
3 Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.
4 But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.
5 O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.
6 Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.
7 Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?
8 Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God?
9 Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him?
10 He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.
11 Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you?
12 Your remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.
13 Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.
14 Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?
15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
16 He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.
17 Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.
18 Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.
19 Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.
20 Only do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from thee.
21 Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid.
22 Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me.
23 How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin.
24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy?
25 Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?
26 For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth.
27 Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet.
28 And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth eaten.
International Standard Version (ISV) 
Copyright © 1995-2014 by ISV Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. Used by permission of Davidson Press, LLC.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.