Job 13

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