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Job Continues: You Are Not Listening to Me

13 “My eye has certainly seen all of this!
    My ear has heard and understood it.
After all, I know it as well as you do.
    I am not inferior to you.
However, I want to speak to Shadday,
    and I wish to argue my case in front of El.
But you are smearing me with lies.
    All of you are worthless physicians.
I wish you would keep silent.
    For you, that would be wisdom.
Please listen to my argument,
    and pay attention to my plea.

Your Wisdom Misrepresents God

“Will you talk wickedly for El
    and talk deceitfully on his behalf?
Will you favor him
    as if you were arguing in court on El’s behalf?
Will it go well when he cross-examines you?
    Will you try to trick him as one mortal tricks another?
10 Will he really defend you
    if you secretly favor him?
11 Doesn’t his majesty terrify you?
    Doesn’t the fear of him fall upon you?
12 “Your recollections are worthless proverbs.[a]
    Your answers are absolutely useless.[b]
13 Be quiet, because I want to speak.
    Let whatever may happen to me happen!
14 I am biting off more than I can chew
    and taking my life in my own hands.
15 If God would kill me, I would have no hope left.[c]
    Nevertheless, I will defend my behavior to his face.
16 This also will be my salvation
    because no godless person could face him.

Job Speaks to God

17 “Listen carefully to my words.
    Hear my declaration.
18 I have prepared my case.
    I know that I will be declared righteous.
19 Who can make a case against me?
    If someone could, I’d be silent and die.

20 “Please don’t do two things to me
    so that I won’t have to hide from you:
21 Stop oppressing me.
    Don’t let your terror frighten me.
22 Then call, and I’ll answer.
    Otherwise, I’ll speak, and you’ll answer me.
23 How many crimes and sins have I committed?
    Make me aware of my disobedience and my sin.
24 Why do you hide your face from me and consider me your enemy?
25 Are you trying to make a fluttering leaf tremble
    or trying to chase dry husks?
26 You write down bitter accusations against me.
    You make me suffer for the sins of my youth.
27 You put my feet in shackles.
    You follow my trail by engraving marks on the soles of my feet.
28 I am like worn-out wineskins,
    like moth-eaten clothes.

Footnotes

  1. Job 13:12 Or “proverbs of ashes.”
  2. Job 13:12 Or “are just answers of clay.”
  3. Job 13:15 Or “If God would kill me, I would still have hope.”

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