Job 13:13–28

¹³“Be silent now and leave me alone.

Let me speak, and I will face the consequences.

¹⁴Why should I put myself in mortal danger

and take my life in my own hands?

¹⁵God might kill me, but I have no other hope.

I am going to argue my case with him.

¹⁶But this is what will save me—I am not godless.

If I were, I could not stand before him.

¹⁷“Listen closely to what I am about to say.

Hear me out.

¹⁸I have prepared my case;

I will be proved innocent.

¹⁹Who can argue with me over this?

And if you prove me wrong, I will remain silent and die.

Job Asks How He Has Sinned

²⁰“O God, grant me these two things,

and then I will be able to face you.

²¹Remove your heavy hand from me,

and don’t terrify me with your awesome presence.

²²Now summon me, and I will answer!

Or let me speak to you, and you reply.

²³Tell me, what have I done wrong?

Show me my rebellion and my sin.

²⁴Why do you turn away from me?

Why do you treat me as your enemy?

²⁵Would you terrify a leaf blown by the wind?

Would you chase dry straw?

²⁶“You write bitter accusations against me

and bring up all the sins of my youth.

²⁷You put my feet in stocks.

You examine all my paths.

You trace all my footprints.

²⁸I waste away like rotting wood,

like a moth-eaten coat.