Job 13:20–27

Only grant me two things,

then I will not hide myself from your face:

withdraw your hand far from me,

and let not dread of you terrify me.

Then call, and I will answer;

or let me speak, and you reply to me.

How many are my iniquities and my sins?

Make me know my transgression and my sin.

Why do you hide your face

and count me as your enemy?

Will you frighten a driven leaf

and pursue dry chaff?

For you write bitter things against me

and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.

You put my feet in the stocks

and watch all my paths;

you set a limit for the soles of my feet.

“Only grant me these two things, God,

and then I will not hide from you:

Withdraw your hand far from me,

and stop frightening me with your terrors.

Then summon me and I will answer,

or let me speak, and you reply to me.

How many wrongs and sins have I committed?

Show me my offense and my sin.

Why do you hide your face

and consider me your enemy?

Will you torment a windblown leaf?

Will you chase after dry chaff?

For you write down bitter things against me

and make me reap the sins of my youth.

You fasten my feet in shackles;

you keep close watch on all my paths

by putting marks on the soles of my feet.

Only grant these two things to me, God,

so that I will not have to hide from your presence:

remove your hand from me,

and do not let your terror frighten me.

Then call, and I will answer,

or I will speak, and you can respond to me.

How many iniquities and sins have I committed?

Reveal to me my transgression and sin.

Why do you hide your face

and consider me your enemy?

Will you frighten a wind-driven leaf?

Will you chase after dry straw?

For you record bitter accusations against me

and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.

You put my feet in the stocks

and stand watch over all my paths,

setting a limit for the soles of my feet.

“O God, grant me these two things,

and then I will be able to face you.

Remove your heavy hand from me,

and don’t terrify me with your awesome presence.

Now summon me, and I will answer!

Or let me speak to you, and you reply.

Tell me, what have I done wrong?

Show me my rebellion and my sin.

Why do you turn away from me?

Why do you treat me as your enemy?

Would you terrify a leaf blown by the wind?

Would you chase dry straw?

“You write bitter accusations against me

and bring up all the sins of my youth.

You put my feet in stocks.

You examine all my paths.

You trace all my footprints.

“Only you must not do these two things to me;

then I will not hide from your face:

withdraw your hand from me,

and let not your dread terrify me.

Then call, and I myself will answer;

or let me speak, then reply to me.

“How many are my iniquities and sins?

Make known to me my transgression and my sin.

Why do you hide your face

and count me as your enemy?

Will you terrify a blown leaf?

And will you pursue dry stubble?

“Indeed, you write bitter things against me,

and you make me reap the iniquities of my childhood.

And you put my feet in the block,

and you watch all my paths;

you carve a mark on the soles of my feet.

Only do not two things unto me:

Then will I not hide myself from thee.

Withdraw thine hand far from me:

And let not thy dread make me afraid.

Then call thou, and I will answer:

Or let me speak, and answer thou me.

How many are mine iniquities and sins?

Make me to know my transgression and my sin.

Wherefore hidest thou thy face,

And holdest me for thine enemy?

Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro?

And wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?

For thou writest bitter things against me,

And makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth.

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.