Job 13:1–28
13 “Behold, my eye has seen all this, My ear has heard and understood it.
2 aWhat you know, I also know;
I am not inferior to you.
3 bBut I would speak to the Almighty,
And I desire to reason with God.
cYou are all worthless physicians.
5 Oh, that you would be silent,
And dit would be your wisdom!
And heed the pleadings of my lips.
7 eWill you speak 1wickedly 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?
If you secretly show partiality.
11 Will not His 2excellence make you afraid,
And the dread of Him fall upon you?
12 Your platitudes are proverbs of ashes,
Your defenses are defenses of clay.
13 “Hold 3your peace with me, and let me speak,
Then let come on me what may!
14 Why fdo I take my flesh in my teeth,
And put my life in my hands?
15 gThough He slay me, yet will I trust Him.
hEven so, I will defend my own ways before Him.
16 He also shall be my salvation,
For a ihypocrite could not come before Him.
17 Listen carefully to my speech,
And to my declaration with your ears.
18 See now, I have prepared my case,
I know that I shall be jvindicated.
19 kWho is he who will contend with me?
If now I hold my tongue, I perish.
20 “Only ltwo things do not do to me,
Then I will not hide myself from You:
21 mWithdraw Your hand far from me,
And let not the dread of You make me afraid.
22 Then call, and I will nanswer;
Or let me speak, then You respond to me.
23 How many are my iniquities and sins?
Make me know my transgression and my sin.
24 oWhy do You hide Your face,
And pregard me as Your enemy?
25 qWill You frighten a leaf driven to and fro?
And will You pursue dry stubble?
26 For You write bitter things against me,
And rmake me inherit the iniquities of my youth.
27 sYou put my feet in the stocks,
And watch closely all my paths.
You 4set a limit for the 5soles of my feet.
28 “Man 6decays like a rotten thing,
Like a garment that is moth-eaten.