Job 13:4–12

4 You, however, smear me with lies;

you are worthless physicians, all of you!

5 If only you would be altogether silent!

For you, that would be wisdom.

6 Hear now my argument;

listen to the pleas of my lips.

7 Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf?

Will you speak deceitfully for him?

8 Will you show him partiality?

Will you argue the case for God?

9 Would it turn out well if he examined you?

Could you deceive him as you might deceive a mortal?

10 He would surely call you to account

if you secretly showed partiality.

11 Would not his splendor terrify you?

Would not the dread of him fall on you?

12 Your maxims are proverbs of ashes;

your defenses are defenses of clay.

4 As for you, you whitewash with lies;

worthless physicians are you all.

5 Oh that you would keep silent,

and it would be your wisdom!

6 Hear now my argument

and listen to the pleadings of my lips.

7 Will you speak falsely for God

and speak deceitfully for him?

8 Will you show partiality toward him?

Will you plead the case for God?

9 Will it be well with you when he searches you out?

Or can you deceive him, as one deceives a man?

10 He will surely rebuke you

if in secret you show partiality.

11 Will not his majesty terrify you,

and the dread of him fall upon you?

12 Your maxims are proverbs of ashes;

your defenses are defenses of clay.

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.

4 As for you, you smear me with lies.

As physicians, you are worthless quacks.

5 If only you could be silent!

That’s the wisest thing you could do.

6 Listen to my charge;

pay attention to my arguments.

7 “Are you defending God with lies?

Do you make your dishonest arguments for his sake?

8 Will you slant your testimony in his favor?

Will you argue God’s case for him?

9 What will happen when he finds out what you are doing?

Can you fool him as easily as you fool people?

10 No, you will be in trouble with him

if you secretly slant your testimony in his favor.

11 Doesn’t his majesty terrify you?

Doesn’t your fear of him overwhelm you?

12 Your platitudes are as valuable as ashes.

Your defense is as fragile as a clay pot.

4 But you forgers of lies,

You are all worthless physicians.

5 Oh, that you would be silent,

And it would be your wisdom!

6 Now hear my reasoning,

And heed the pleadings of my lips.

7 Will you speak wickedly for God,

And talk deceitfully for Him?

8 Will you show partiality for Him?

Will you contend for God?

9 Will it be well when He searches you out?

Or can you mock Him as one mocks a man?

10 He will surely rebuke you

If you secretly show partiality.

11 Will not His excellence make you afraid,

And the dread of Him fall upon you?

12 Your platitudes are proverbs of ashes,

Your defenses are defenses of clay.

4 But you smear me with lies.

You are worthless doctors, all of you!

5 I wish you would just stop talking;

then you would really be wise!

6 Listen to my argument,

and hear the pleading of my lips.

7 You should not speak evil in the name of God;

you cannot speak God’s truth by telling lies.

8 You should not unfairly choose his side against mine;

you should not argue the case for God.

9 You will not do well if he examines you;

you cannot fool God as you might fool humans.

10 God would surely scold you

if you unfairly took one person’s side.

11 His bright glory would scare you,

and you would be very much afraid of him.

12 Your wise sayings are worth no more than ashes,

and your arguments are as weak as clay.

4 For ye indeed are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value. 5 Oh that ye would be altogether silent! and it would be your wisdom. 6 Hear now my defence, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips. 7 Will ye speak unrighteously for •God? and for him speak deceit? 8 Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for •God? 9 Will it be well if he should search you out? or as one mocketh at a man, will ye mock at him? 10 He will certainly reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons. 11 Shall not his excellency terrify you? and his dread fall upon you? 12 Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes, your bulwarks are bulwarks of mire.

4 But you are smearing me with lies. 

All of you are worthless physicians. 

5 I wish you would keep silent. 

For you, that would be wisdom. 

6 Please listen to my argument, 

and pay attention to my plea. 

7 “Will you talk wickedly for God 

and talk deceitfully on his behalf? 

8 Will you favor him 

⸤as⸥ if you were arguing in court on God’s behalf? 

9 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.

Your answers are absolutely useless.

4 But you coat the truth with lies;

you are all worthless doctors.

5 If only you would shut up

and let that be your wisdom!

6 Hear now my argument,

and listen to my defense.

7 Would you testify unjustly on God’s behalf

or speak deceitfully for Him?

8 Would you show partiality to Him

or argue the case in His defense?

9 Would it go well if He examined you?

Could you deceive Him as you would deceive a man?

10 Surely He would rebuke you

if you secretly showed partiality.

11 Would God’s majesty not terrify you?

Would His dread not fall on you?

12 Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ash;

your defenses are made of clay.

4 As for you, you whitewash with lies;

all of you are worthless physicians.

5 If you would only keep silent,

that would be your wisdom!

6 Hear now my reasoning,

and listen to the pleadings of my lips.

7 Will you speak falsely for God

and speak deceitfully for him?

8 Will you show partiality toward him;

will you plead the case for God?

9 Will it be well with you when he searches you out?

Or can you deceive him as one person deceives another?

10 He will surely rebuke you

if in secret you show partiality.

11 Will not his majesty terrify you

and the dread of him fall upon you?

12 Your maxims are proverbs of ashes;

your defenses are defenses of clay.

4 “But you whitewash with lies;

all of you are worthless healers.

5 O that you would keep completely silent,

and that it would become wisdom for you.

6 Please hear my argument,

and listen attentively to the pleadings of my lips.

7 “Will you speak falsely for God?

And will you speak deceitfully for him?

8 Will you show partiality for him?

Or do you want to plead God’s case?

9 Will it be well, if he examines you?

Or can you deceive him like deceiving a human being?

10 “Surely he will rebuke you

if you show partiality in secret.

11 Will not his majesty terrify you,

and his dread fall upon you?

12 Your maxims are proverbs of ashes;

your defenses are defenses of clay.

4 But you spread lies about me and take away my good name.

If you are trying to heal me,

you aren’t very good doctors!

5 I wish you would keep your mouths shut!

Then people would think you were wise.

6 Listen to my case.

Listen as I make my appeal.

7 Will you say evil things in order to help God?

Will you tell lies for him?

8 Do you want to be on God’s side?

Will you argue his case for him?

9 Would it turn out well if he looked you over carefully?

Could you fool him as you fool others?

10 He would certainly correct you

if you took his side in secret.

11 Wouldn’t his glory terrify you?

Wouldn’t the fear of him fall on you?

12 Your sayings are as useless as ashes.

The answers you give are as weak as clay.

4 “But you smear with lies;

You are all worthless physicians.

5 “O that you would be completely silent,

And that it would become your wisdom!

6 “Please hear my argument

And listen to the contentions of my lips.

7 “Will you speak what is unjust for God,

And speak what is deceitful for Him?

8 “Will you show partiality for Him?

Will you contend for God?

9 “Will it be well when He examines you?

Or will you deceive Him as one deceives a man?

10 “He will surely reprove you

If you secretly show partiality.

11 “Will not His majesty terrify you,

And the dread of Him fall on you?

12 “Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes,

Your defenses are defenses of clay.