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13 Lo, all -- hath mine eye seen, Heard hath mine ear, and it attendeth to it.

According to your knowledge I have known -- also I. I am not fallen more than you.

Yet I for the Mighty One do speak, And to argue for God I delight.

And yet, ye [are] forgers of falsehood, Physicians of nought -- all of you,

O that ye would keep perfectly silent, And it would be to you for wisdom.

Hear, I pray you, my argument, And to the pleadings of my lips attend,

For God do ye speak perverseness? And for Him do ye speak deceit?

His face do ye accept, if for God ye strive?

Is [it] good that He doth search you, If, as one mocketh at a man, ye mock at Him?

10 He doth surely reprove you, if in secret ye accept faces.

11 Doth not His excellency terrify you? And His dread fall upon you?

12 Your remembrances [are] similes of ashes, For high places of clay your heights.

13 Keep silent from me, and I speak, And pass over me doth what?

14 Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth? And my soul put in my hand?

15 Lo, He doth slay me -- I wait not! Only, my ways unto His face I argue.

16 Also -- He [is] to me for salvation, For the profane cometh not before Him.

17 Hear ye diligently my word, And my declaration with your ears.

18 Lo, I pray you, I have set in order the cause, I have known that I am righteous.

19 Who [is] he that doth strive with me? For now I keep silent and gasp.

20 Only two things, O God, do with me: Then from Thy face I am not hidden.

21 Thy hand put far off from me, And Thy terror let not terrify me.

22 And call Thou, and I -- I answer, Or -- I speak, and answer Thou me.

23 How many iniquities and sins have I? My transgression and my sin let me know.

24 Why dost Thou hide Thy face? And reckonest me for an enemy to Thee?

25 A leaf driven away dost Thou terrify? And the dry stubble dost Thou pursue?

26 For Thou writest against me bitter things, And causest me to possess iniquities of my youth:

27 And puttest in the stocks my feet, And observest all my paths, On the roots of my feet Thou settest a print,

28 And he, as a rotten thing, weareth away, As a garment hath a moth consumed him.

13 “My eyes have seen all this,(A)
    my ears have heard and understood it.
What you know, I also know;
    I am not inferior to you.(B)
But I desire to speak to the Almighty(C)
    and to argue my case with God.(D)
You, however, smear me with lies;(E)
    you are worthless physicians,(F) all of you!(G)
If only you would be altogether silent!(H)
    For you, that would be wisdom.(I)
Hear now my argument;
    listen to the pleas of my lips.(J)
Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf?
    Will you speak deceitfully for him?(K)
Will you show him partiality?(L)
    Will you argue the case for God?
Would it turn out well if he examined you?(M)
    Could you deceive him as you might deceive a mortal?(N)
10 He would surely call you to account
    if you secretly showed partiality.(O)
11 Would not his splendor(P) terrify you?
    Would not the dread of him fall on you?(Q)
12 Your maxims are proverbs of ashes;
    your defenses are defenses of clay.(R)

13 “Keep silent(S) and let me speak;(T)
    then let come to me what may.(U)
14 Why do I put myself in jeopardy
    and take my life in my hands?(V)
15 Though he slay me, yet will I hope(W) in him;(X)
    I will surely[a] defend my ways to his face.(Y)
16 Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance,(Z)
    for no godless(AA) person would dare come before him!(AB)
17 Listen carefully to what I say;(AC)
    let my words ring in your ears.
18 Now that I have prepared my case,(AD)
    I know I will be vindicated.(AE)
19 Can anyone bring charges against me?(AF)
    If so, I will be silent(AG) and die.(AH)

20 “Only grant me these two things, God,
    and then I will not hide from you:
21 Withdraw your hand(AI) far from me,
    and stop frightening me with your terrors.(AJ)
22 Then summon me and I will answer,(AK)
    or let me speak, and you reply to me.(AL)
23 How many wrongs and sins have I committed?(AM)
    Show me my offense and my sin.(AN)
24 Why do you hide your face(AO)
    and consider me your enemy?(AP)
25 Will you torment(AQ) a windblown leaf?(AR)
    Will you chase(AS) after dry chaff?(AT)
26 For you write down bitter things against me
    and make me reap the sins of my youth.(AU)
27 You fasten my feet in shackles;(AV)
    you keep close watch on all my paths(AW)
    by putting marks on the soles of my feet.

28 “So man wastes away like something rotten,
    like a garment(AX) eaten by moths.(AY)

Footnotes

  1. Job 13:15 Or He will surely slay me; I have no hope — / yet I will