Job 13

13TH CHAPTER

Job Continues: You Are Not Listening to Me

¹“My eye has certainly seen all of this! 

My ear has heard and understood it. 

²After all, I know it as well as you do. 

I am not inferior to you. 

³However, I want to speak to the Almighty, 

and I wish to argue my case in front of God. 

⁴But you are smearing me with lies. 

All of you are worthless physicians. 

⁵I wish you would keep silent. 

For you, that would be wisdom. 

⁶Please listen to my argument, 

and pay attention to my plea. 

Your Wisdom Misrepresents God

⁷“Will you talk wickedly for God 

and talk deceitfully on his behalf? 

⁸Will you favor him 

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

⁹Will it go well when he cross-examines you? 

Will you try to trick him as one mortal tricks another? 

¹⁰Will he really defend you 

if you secretly favor ⸤him⸥? 

¹¹Doesn’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

¹³Be quiet, because I want to speak. 

Let whatever may happen to me ⸤happen⸥! 

¹⁴I am biting off more than I can chew 

and taking my life in my own hands. 

¹⁵If God would kill me, I would have no hope ⸤left⸥.^c

Nevertheless, I will defend my behavior to his face. 

¹⁶This 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. 

¹⁸I have prepared my case. 

I know that I will be declared righteous. 

¹⁹Who 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: 

²¹Stop oppressing me. 

Don’t let your terror frighten me. 

²²Then call, and I’ll answer. 

Otherwise, I’ll speak, and you’ll answer me. 

²³How many crimes and sins have I committed? 

Make me aware of my disobedience and my sin. 

²⁴Why do you hide your face ⸤from me⸥ and consider me your enemy? 

²⁵Are you trying to make a fluttering leaf tremble 

or trying to chase dry husks? 

²⁶You write down bitter accusations against me. 

You make me suffer for the sins of my youth. 

²⁷You put my feet in shackles. 

You follow my trail by engraving marks on the soles of my feet. 

²⁸I am like worn-out wineskins, 

like moth-eaten clothes.