Job 13

13“My eyes have seen all this,^t

my ears have heard and understood it.

²What you know, I also know;

I am not inferior to you.^u

³But I desire to speak to the Almighty^v

and to argue my case with God.^w

⁴You, however, smear me with lies;^x

you are worthless physicians,^y all of you!^z

⁵If only you would be altogether silent!^a

For you, that would be wisdom.^b

⁶Hear now my argument;

listen to the pleas of my lips.^c

⁷Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf?

Will you speak deceitfully for him?^d

⁸Will you show him partiality?^e

Will you argue the case for God?

⁹Would it turn out well if he examined you?^f

Could you deceive him as you might deceive a mortal?^g

¹⁰He would surely call you to account

if you secretly showed partiality.^h

¹¹Would not his splendorⁱ terrify you?

Would not the dread of him fall on you?^j

¹²Your maxims are proverbs of ashes;

your defenses are defenses of clay.^k

¹³“Keep silent^l and let me speak;^m

then let come to me what may.ⁿ

¹⁴Why do I put myself in jeopardy

and take my life in my hands?^o

¹⁵Though he slay me, yet will I hope^p in him;^q

I will surely^a defend my ways to his face.^r

¹⁶Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance,^s

for no godless^t person would dare come before him!^u

¹⁷Listen carefully to what I say;^v

let my words ring in your ears.

¹⁸Now that I have prepared my case,^w

I know I will be vindicated.^x

¹⁹Can anyone bring charges against me?^y

If so, I will be silent^z and die.^a

²⁰“Only grant me these two things, God,

and then I will not hide from you:

²¹Withdraw your hand^b far from me,

and stop frightening me with your terrors.^c

²²Then summon me and I will answer,^d

or let me speak, and you reply to me.^e

²³How many wrongs and sins have I committed?^f

Show me my offense and my sin.^g

²⁴Why do you hide your face^h

and consider me your enemy?ⁱ

²⁵Will you torment^j a windblown leaf?^k

Will you chase^l after dry chaff?^m

²⁶For you write down bitter things against me

and make me reap the sins of my youth.ⁿ

²⁷You fasten my feet in shackles;^o

you keep close watch on all my paths^p

by putting marks on the soles of my feet.

²⁸“So man wastes away like something rotten,

like a garment^q eaten by moths.^r