Job 13

Job wants to argue his case with God

¹Look, my eyes have seen all this; \q my ears have heard it and understood it. ²What you know, I know too; \q I am not inferior to you. ³But I want to speak to the Almighty; \q I long to argue my case with God. ⁴But you smear things over with lies; \q all of you are worthless physicians. ⁵If only you would keep completely silent! \q That would be wisdom on your part. ⁶Please listen to my argument; \q pay attention to the case I plead. ⁷Will you speak what is unjust on God’s behalf, \q and say what is false for him? ⁸Will you show him partiality? \q Will you plead the case for God? ⁹Would it go well for you if he examined you? \q Can you fool him as you would fool a mortal? ¹⁰He will certainly rebuke you \q if you secretly show partiality. ¹¹Will his majesty not fill you with terror? \q Will the dread of him not fall on you? ¹²Your wise sayings are proverbs made of ashes; \q your defenses are defenses of clay. ¹³Be quiet and leave me alone, so that I may speak; \q then let come on me what may. ¹⁴Why should I take my flesh in my teeth \q and put my life in my hands?^{a 15}Even if he kills me, I will hope in him; \q still, I will defend my ways to his face.^{b 16}This too will turn out for my deliverance, \q since no godless person would come before him. ¹⁷Listen closely to what I say; \q let my declaration reach your ears. ¹⁸See now, I have prepared my case; \q I know that I will be vindicated. ¹⁹Who is there that can bring a case against me? \q If anyone can, I will be silent and die.^{c 20}Only do not do two things to me, \q and then I will not hide from your presence. ²¹Take your hand away from me, \q and do not let the terror of you frighten me. ²²Then call me, and I will answer; \q or let me speak, and you answer me. ²³How many wrongs and sins have I committed? \q Show me my offense and my sin. ²⁴Why do you hide your face \q and treat me as your enemy? ²⁵Will you frighten a leaf blown by the wind? \q Will you chase after dry straw? ²⁶For you write down bitter charges against me \q and make me pay for the sins of my youth. ²⁷You put my feet in the stocks \q and keep watch on all my paths; \q you set a mark on the soles of my feet.^{d 28}So he wastes away like something rotten, \q like a garment eaten by moths.