Job 13

¹ Lo, all this my eye has seen; my ear has heard and perceived it.

² What you know, I also know; I fall not short of you.

³ But I would speak with the Almighty; I wish to reason with God.

⁴ You are glossing over falsehoods and offering vain remedies, every one of you!

⁵ Oh, that you would be altogether silent! This for you would be wisdom.

⁶ Hear now the rebuke I shall utter and listen to the reproof from my lips.

⁷ Is it for God that you speak falsehood? Is it for him that you utter deceit?

⁸ Is it for him that you show partiality? Do you play advocate on behalf of God?

⁹ Will it be well when he shall search you out? Would you impose on him as one does on men?

¹⁰ He will openly rebuke you if even in secret you show partiality.

¹¹ Surely will his majesty affright you and the dread of him fall upon you.

¹² Your reminders are ashy maxims, your fabrications are mounds of clay.

¹³ Be silent, let me alone! that I may speak and give vent to my feelings.

¹⁴ I will carry my flesh between my teeth, and take my life in my hand.

¹⁵ Slay me though he might, I will wait for him; I will defend my conduct before him.

¹⁶ And this shall be my salvation, that no impious man can come into his presence.

¹⁷ Pay careful heed to my speech, and give my statement a hearing.

¹⁸ Behold, I have prepared my case, I know that I am in the right.

¹⁹ If anyone can make a case against me, then I shall be silent and die.

²⁰ These things only do not use against me, then from your presence I need not hide:

²¹ Withdraw your hand far from me, and let not the terror of you frighten me.

²² Then call me, and I will respond; or let me speak first, and answer me.

²³ What are my faults and my sins? My misdeeds and my sins make known to me!

²⁴ Why do you hide your face and consider me your enemy?

²⁵ Will you harass a wind-driven leaf, or pursue a withered straw?

²⁶ For you draw up bitter indictments against me, and punish in me the faults of my youth.

²⁷ You put my feet in the stocks; you watch all my paths and trace out all my footsteps.

²⁸ Though he wears out like a leather bottle, like a garment that the moth has consumed?