Job 13:1-28
13 “Look! All this my eye has seen,My ear has heard and considers it.
2 What YOU men know I myself well know also;I am not inferior to YOU.*+
3 However, I, for my part, would speak to the Almighty himself,+And in arguing with God* I would find delight.
4 On the other hand, YOU men are smearers of falsehood;+All of YOU are physicians of no value.+
5 If only YOU would absolutely keep silent,That it might prove to be wisdom on YOUR part!+
6 Hear, please, my counterarguments,+And to the pleadings of my lips pay attention.
7 Will YOU men speak unrighteousness for God himself,And for him will YOU speak deceit?+
8 Will YOU be treating him with partiality,+Or for the [true] God will YOU contend at law?
9 Would it be good that he sound YOU out?+Or as one trifles with mortal man will YOU trifle with him?
10 He will positively reprove YOU+If in secrecy YOU try to show partiality;*+
11 Will not his very dignity make YOU start up with fright,And the very dread of him fall upon YOU?+
12 YOUR memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes;YOUR shield bosses* are as shield bosses of clay.+
13 KEEP silent before me, that I myself may speak.Then let come upon me whatever it may be!
14 Why do I carry my flesh in my teethAnd place my own soul* in my palm?+
15 Even if he would slay me, would I not wait?*+I would only argue to his face for my own ways.
16 He* would also be my salvation,+For before him no apostate will come in.+
17 HEAR my word clear through,+And let my declaration be in YOUR ears.
18 Look! Please, I have presented a case of justice;+I well know that I myself am in the right.
19 Who is the one that will contend with me?+For now were I to become silent I should simply expire!
20 Only two things do not do* to me;In that case I shall not conceal myself just on your account;+
21 Put your own hand far away from upon me,And the fright of you—may it not terrify me.+
22 Either call that I myself may answer;Or may I speak, and you return me answer.
23 In what way do I have errors and sins?Make me to know my own revolt and my own sin.
24 Why do you conceal your very face+And regard me as an enemy of yours?+
25 Will you make a mere leaf driven about quiver,Or keep chasing after mere dry stubble?
26 For you keep writing against me bitter things+And you make me possess [the consequences of] the errors of my youth.+
27 You also keep my feet put in the stocks,+And you watch all my paths;For the soles* of my feet you mark your own line.
28 And he* is like something rotten* that wears out;+Like a garment that a moth actually eats up.+
Footnotes
^ “God.” Heb., ʼEl.
^ “Show partiality,” M; TSyVg, “treat him with partiality.”
^ Or, “your breastworks.”
^ “And . . . my own soul.” Heb., wenaph·shiʹ; Gr., psy·khenʹ; Lat., aʹni·mam. Compare Jg 12:3; 1Sa 19:5.
^ Or, “I would not wait,” M; MmarginTSyVg, “for him I would wait.”
^ Or, “That.”
^ “Do.” The Heb. verb is sing. to agree with “you” and “your(s)” addressed to God in vss 20-27.
^ Lit., “roots of.”
^ “He,” that is, Job.
^ “Something rotten (rottenness),” MVg; LXX, “skin bag”; Sy, “leather bag.”
