Job 13

Job Continues: You Are Not Listening to Me

¹“My eye has certainly seen all of this!

My ear has heard and understood it.

²After all, I know it as well as you do.

I am not inferior to you.

³However, I want to speak to the Almighty,

and I wish to argue my case in front of God.

⁴But you are smearing me with lies.

All of you are worthless physicians.

⁵I wish you would keep silent.

For you, that would be wisdom.

⁶Please listen to my argument,

and pay attention to my plea.

Your Wisdom Misrepresents God

⁷“Will you talk wickedly for God

and talk deceitfully on his behalf?

⁸Will you favor him

⌞as⌟ if you were arguing in court on God’s behalf?

⁹Will it go well when he cross-examines you?

Will you try to trick him as one mortal tricks another?

¹⁰Will he really defend you

if you secretly favor ⌞him⌟ ?

¹¹Doesn’t his majesty terrify you?

Doesn’t the fear of him fall upon you?

¹²“Your recollections are worthless proverbs.[#13:12 Or “proverbs of ashes.”]

Your answers are absolutely useless.

¹³Be quiet, because I want to speak.

Let whatever may happen to me ⌞happen⌟ !

¹⁴I am biting off more than I can chew

and taking my life in my own hands.

¹⁵If God would kill me, I would have no hope ⌞left⌟ .[#13:15 Or “If God would kill me, I would still have hope.”]

Nevertheless, I will defend my behavior to his face.

¹⁶This also will be my salvation

because no godless person could face him.

Job Speaks to God

¹⁷“Listen carefully to my words.

Hear my declaration.

¹⁸I have prepared my case.

I know that I will be declared righteous.

¹⁹Who can make a case against me?

If someone could, I’d be silent and die.

²⁰“Please don’t do two things to me

so that I won’t have to hide from you:

²¹Stop oppressing me.

Don’t let your terror frighten me.

²²Then call, and I’ll answer.

Otherwise, I’ll speak, and you’ll answer me.

²³How many crimes and sins have I committed?

Make me aware of my disobedience and my sin.

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

²⁵Are you trying to make a fluttering leaf tremble

or trying to chase dry husks?

²⁶You write down bitter accusations against me.

You make me suffer for the sins of my youth.

²⁷You put my feet in shackles.

You follow my trail by engraving marks on the soles of my feet.

²⁸I am like worn-out wineskins,

like moth-eaten clothes.