1“My eyes have seen all this, my ears have heard and understood it. 2What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you. 3But I desire to speak to the Almighty and to argue my case with God. 4You, however, smear me with lies; you are worthless physicians, all of you! 5If only you would be altogether silent! For you, that would be wisdom. 6Hear now my argument; listen to the pleas of my lips. 7Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf? Will you speak deceitfully for him? 8Will you show him partiality? Will you argue the case for God? 9Would it turn out well if he examined you? Could you deceive him as you might deceive a mortal? 10He would surely call you to account if you secretly showed partiality. 11Would not his splendor terrify you? Would not the dread of him fall on you? 12Your maxims are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay.
13“Keep silent and let me speak; then let come to me what may. 14Why do I put myself in jeopardy and take my life in my hands? 15Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely⚓ defend my ways to his face. 16Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance, for no godless person would dare come before him! 17Listen carefully to what I say; let my words ring in your ears. 18Now that I have prepared my case, I know I will be vindicated. 19Can anyone bring charges against me? If so, I will be silent and die.
20“Only grant me these two things, God, and then I will not hide from you: 21Withdraw your hand far from me, and stop frightening me with your terrors. 22Then summon me and I will answer, or let me speak, and you reply to me. 23How many wrongs and sins have I committed? Show me my offense and my sin. 24Why do you hide your face and consider me your enemy? 25Will you torment a windblown leaf? Will you chase after dry chaff? 26For you write down bitter things against me and make me reap the sins of my youth. 27You fasten my feet in shackles; you keep close watch on all my paths by putting marks on the soles of my feet.
28“So man wastes away like something rotten, like a garment eaten by moths.
13
1“Behold, my eye has seen all this, My ear has heard and understood it. 2⚓What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you. 3⚓But I would speak to the Almighty, And I desire to reason with God. 4But you forgers of lies, ⚓You are all worthless physicians. 5Oh, that you would be silent, And ⚓it would be your wisdom! 6Now hear my reasoning, And heed the pleadings of my lips. 7⚓Will you speak wickedly for God, And talk deceitfully for Him? 8Will you show partiality for Him? Will you contend for God? 9Will it be well when He searches you out? Or can you mock Him as one mocks a man? 10He will surely rebuke you If you secretly show partiality. 11Will not His excellence make you afraid, And the dread of Him fall upon you? 12Your platitudes are proverbs of ashes, Your defenses are defenses of clay. 13“Hold your peace with me, and let me speak, Then let come on me what may! 14Why ⚓do I take my flesh in my teeth, And put my life in my hands? 15⚓Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. ⚓Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him. 16He also shall be my salvation, For a ⚓hypocrite could not come before Him. 17Listen carefully to my speech, And to my declaration with your ears. 18See now, I have prepared my case, I know that I shall be ⚓vindicated. 19⚓Who is he who will contend with me? If now I hold my tongue, I perish.
Job’s Despondent Prayer
20“Only⚓ two things do not do to me, Then I will not hide myself from You: 21⚓Withdraw Your hand far from me, And let not the dread of You make me afraid. 22Then call, and I will ⚓answer; Or let me speak, then You respond to me. 23How many are my iniquities and sins? Make me know my transgression and my sin. 24⚓Why do You hide Your face, And ⚓regard me as Your enemy? 25⚓Will You frighten a leaf driven to and fro? And will You pursue dry stubble? 26For You write bitter things against me, And ⚓make me inherit the iniquities of my youth. 27⚓You put my feet in the stocks, And watch closely all my paths. You set a limit for the soles of my feet. 28“Man decays like a rotten thing, Like a garment that is moth-eaten.