Chapter 13

Job Says His Friends’ Proverbs Are Ashes

1 “aBehold, 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 “But aI would speak to 1the Almighty,

And I desire to bargue with God.

4 “But you asmear with lies;

You are all bworthless physicians.

5 “O that you would abe completely silent,

And that it would become your wisdom!

6 “Please hear my argument

And listen to the contentions of my lips.

7 “Will you aspeak what is unjust for God,

And speak what is deceitful for Him?

8 “Will you ashow partiality for Him?

Will you contend for God?

9 “Will it be well when He examines you?

Or awill you deceive Him as one deceives a man?

10 “He will surely reprove you

If you secretly ashow partiality.

11 “Will not aHis 1majesty terrify you,

And the dread of Him fall on you?

12 “Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes,

Your defenses are defenses of clay.

Job Is Sure He Will Be Vindicated

13 “aBe silent before me so that I may speak;

Then let come on me what may.

14 “Why should I take my flesh in my teeth

And aput my life in my 1hands?

15 “aThough He slay me,

I will hope in Him.

Nevertheless I bwill argue my ways 1before Him.

16 “This also will be my asalvation,

For ba godless man may not come before His presence.

17 “Listen carefully to my speech,

And let my declaration fill your ears.

18 “Behold now, I have aprepared my case;

I know that bI will be vindicated.

19 “aWho will contend with me?

For then I would be silent and bdie.

20 “Only two things do not do to me,

Then I will not hide from Your face:

21 aRemove Your 1hand from me,

And let not the dread of You terrify me.

22 “Then call, and aI will answer;

Or let me speak, then reply to me.

23 “aHow many are my iniquities and sins?

Make known to me my 1rebellion and my sin.

24 “Why do You ahide Your face

And consider me bYour enemy?

25 “Will You cause a adriven leaf to tremble?

Or will You pursue the dry bchaff?

26 “For You write abitter things against me

And bmake me to inherit the iniquities of my youth.

27 “You aput my feet in the stocks

And watch all my paths;

You 1set a limit for the soles of my feet,

28 While 1I am decaying like a arotten thing,

Like a garment that is moth-eaten.