Job 13:13–28

¹³“Hold ³your peace with me, and let me speak,

Then let come on me what may!

¹⁴Why ^fdo I take my flesh in my teeth,

And put my life in my hands?

^15gThough He slay me, yet will I trust Him.

^hEven so, I will defend my own ways before Him.

¹⁶He also shall be my salvation,

For a ⁱhypocrite could not come before Him.

¹⁷Listen carefully to my speech,

And to my declaration with your ears.

¹⁸See now, I have prepared my case,

I know that I shall be ^jvindicated.

^19kWho is he who will contend with me?

If now I hold my tongue, I perish.

Job’s Despondent Prayer

²⁰“Only ^ltwo things do not do to me,

Then I will not hide myself from You:

^21mWithdraw Your hand far from me,

And let not the dread of You make me afraid.

²²Then call, and I will ⁿanswer;

Or let me speak, then You respond to me.

²³How many are my iniquities and sins?

Make me know my transgression and my sin.

^24oWhy do You hide Your face,

And ^pregard me as Your enemy?

^25qWill You frighten a leaf driven to and fro?

And will You pursue dry stubble?

²⁶For You write bitter things against me,

And ^rmake me inherit the iniquities of my youth.

^27sYou 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.