Job 13

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 I have seen all this with my own eyes, heard with my own ears and understood.	1 Behold, my eye has seen all these things, and my ear has heard, and I have understood each one.
2 Whatever you know, I know too; I am in no way inferior to you.	2 In conformity with your knowledge, I also know. I am not inferior to you.
3 But my words are intended for Shaddai; I mean to remonstrate with God.	3 Yet I speak this way to the Almighty, and I desire to argue with God,
4 As for you, you are only charlatans, all worthless as doctors!	4 having first shown that you fabricate lies and cultivate perverse teachings.
5 Wil no one teach you to be quiet -- the only wisdom that becomes you!	5 And I wish that you would remain silent, so that you would be counted among the wise.
6 Kindly listen to my accusation and give your attention to the way I shall plead.	6 Therefore, listen to my correction, and pay attention to the judgment of my lips.
7 Do you mean to defend God by prevarication and by dishonest argument,	7 Does God require your lie, so that you would speak deceitfully for him?
8 and, taking his side like this, appoint yourselves as his advocates?	8 Have you taken his place, and do you struggle to give judgment in favor of God?
9 How would you fare, if he were to scrutinise you? Can he be duped as mortals are duped?	9 Or, will it please him, from whom nothing can be concealed? Or, will he be deceived, like a man, by your deceitfulness?
10 He would inflict a harsh rebuke on you for your covert partiality.	10 He will accuse you because in secret you have preempted his presence.
11 Does his majesty not affright you? Does his terror not overcome you?	11 As soon as he moves himself, he will disturb you, and his dread will fall over you.
12 Your received ideas are maxims of ash, your retorts, retorts of clay.	12 Your remembrance will be compared to ashes, and your necks will be reduced to clay.
13 Be quiet! Kindly let me do the talking, happen to me what may.	13 Be silent for a little while, so that I may speak whatever my mind suggests to me.
14 I am putting my flesh between my teeth, I am taking my life in my hands;	14 Why do I wound my flesh with my teeth, and carry my soul in my hands?
15 let him kill me if he will; I have no other hope than to justify my conduct in his eyes.	15 And now, if he would kill me, I will hope in him; in this, truly, I will correct my ways in his sight.
16 And this is what wil save me, for the wicked would not dare to appear before him.	16 And he will be my savior, for no hypocrite at all will approach in his sight.
17 Listen careful y to my words, and pay attention to what I am going to say.	17 Listen to my words, and perceive an enigma with your ears.
18 You see, I shal proceed by form of law, knowing that I am upright.	18 If I will be judged, I know that I will be found to be just.
19 Who wants to contest my case? In advance, I agree to be silenced and to die!	19 Who is it that will go to judgment with me? Let him approach. Why should I be consumed in silence?
20 Only grant me two concessions, and then I shal not hide away from your face:	20 Do not do such things to me twice, and then I will not hide from your face.
21 remove your hand, which lies so heavy on me, no longer make me cower from your terror.	21 Take your hand far away from me, and do not let your dread terrify me.
22 Then cal me forward and I shal answer, or rather, I shall speak and you wil answer.	22 Call me, and I will answer you, or else I will speak, and you can answer me.
23 How many faults and crimes have I committed? Tell me what my misdeed has been, what my sin?	23 How many iniquities and sins do I have? Reveal my crimes and offenses to me.
24 Why do you hide your face and look on me as your enemy?	24 Why do you conceal your face and consider me to be your enemy?
25 Do you want to intimidate a wind-blown leaf, do you want to pursue a dry straw?	25 Against a leaf, which is carried away by the wind, you reveal your power, and you pursue dry straw.
26 You who lay bitter al egations against me and tax me with the faults of my youth	26 For you write bitter things against me, and you want to consume me for the sins of my youth.
27 and have put my feet in the stocks; you examine my every step and measure my footprints one byone!	27 You have put my feet on a tether, and you have observed all my paths, and you have considered the steps of my feet.
28 For his part, he crumbles away like rotten wood, or like a moth-eaten garment,	28 I will be left to decay like something rotten and like a garment that is being eaten by moths.