Job 13:1–28

“My eyes have seen everything God has done.

My ears have heard it and understood it.

²What you know, I also know.

I’m as clever as you are.

³In fact, I long to speak to the Mighty One.

I want to argue my case with God.

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

If you are trying to heal me,

you aren’t very good doctors!

⁵I wish you would keep your mouths shut!

Then people would think you were wise.

⁶Listen to my case.

Listen as I make my appeal.

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

Will you tell lies for him?

⁸Do you want to be on God’s side?

Will you argue his case for him?

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

Could you fool him as you fool others?

¹⁰He would certainly correct you

if you took his side in secret.

¹¹Wouldn’t his glory terrify you?

Wouldn’t the fear of him fall on you?

¹²Your sayings are as useless as ashes.

The answers you give are as weak as clay.

¹³“So be quiet and let me speak.

Then I won’t care what happens to me.

¹⁴Why do I put myself in danger?

Why do I take my life in my hands?

¹⁵Even if God kills me, I’ll still put my hope in him.

I’ll argue my case in front of him.

¹⁶No matter how things turn out,

I’m sure I’ll still be saved.

After all, no ungodly person

would dare to come into his court.

¹⁷Listen carefully to what I’m saying.

Pay close attention to my words.

¹⁸I’ve prepared my case.

And I know I’ll be proved right.

¹⁹Can others bring charges against me?

If they can, I’ll keep quiet and die.

²⁰“God, I won’t hide from you.

Here are the only two things I want.

²¹Keep your powerful hand far away from me.

And stop making me so afraid.

²²Then send for me, and I’ll answer.

Or let me speak, and you reply.

²³How many things have I done wrong?

How many sins have I committed?

Show me my crime. Show me my sin.

²⁴Why do you turn your face away from me?

Why do you think of me as your enemy?

²⁵I’m already like a leaf that is blown by the wind.

Are you going to terrify me even more?

I’m already like dry straw.

Are you going to keep on chasing me?

²⁶You write down bitter things against me.

You make me suffer for the sins

I committed when I was young.

²⁷You put my feet in chains.

You watch every step I take.

You do it by putting marks on the bottom of my feet.

²⁸“People waste away like something that is rotten.

They are like clothes that are eaten by moths.