Job, 13

1. I have seen all this with my own eyes, heard with my own ears and understood.

1. "Lo, my eye has seen all this, my ear has heard and understood it.

2. Whatever you know, I know too; I am in no way inferior to you.

2. What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you.

3. But my words are intended for Shaddai; I mean to remonstrate with God.

3. But I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to argue my case with God.

4. As for you, you are only charlatans, all worthless as doctors!

4. As for you, you whitewash with lies; worthless physicians are you all.

5. Will no one teach you to be quiet -- the only wisdom that becomes you!

5. Oh that you would keep silent, and it would be your wisdom!

6. Kindly listen to my accusation and give your attention to the way I shall plead.

6. Hear now my reasoning, and listen to the pleadings of my lips.

7. Do you mean to defend God by prevarication and by dishonest argument,

7. Will you speak falsely for God, and speak deceitfully for him?

8. and, taking his side like this, appoint yourselves as his advocates?

8. Will you show partiality toward him, will you plead the case for God?

9. How would you fare, if he were to scrutinise you? Can he be duped as mortals are duped?

9. Will it be well with you when he searches you out? Or can you deceive him, as one deceives a man?

10. He would inflict a harsh rebuke on you for your covert partiality.

10. He will surely rebuke you if in secret you show partiality.

11. Does his majesty not affright you? Does his terror not overcome you?

11. Will not his majesty terrify you, and the dread of him fall upon you?

12. Your received ideas are maxims of ash, your retorts, retorts of clay.

12. Your maxims are proverbs of ashes, your defenses are defenses of clay.

13. Be quiet! Kindly let me do the talking, happen to me what may.

13. "Let me have silence, and I will speak, and let come on me what may.

14. I am putting my flesh between my teeth, I am taking my life in my hands;

14. I will take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand.

15. let him kill me if he will; I have no other hope than to justify my conduct in his eyes.

15. Behold, he will slay me; I have no hope; yet I will defend my ways to his face.

16. And this is what will save me, for the wicked would not dare to appear before him.

16. This will be my salvation, that a godless man shall not come before him.

17. Listen carefully to my words, and pay attention to what I am going to say.

17. Listen carefully to my words, and let my declaration be in your ears.

18. You see, I shall proceed by form of law, knowing that I am upright.

18. Behold, I have prepared my case; I know that I shall be vindicated.

19. Who wants to contest my case? In advance, I agree to be silenced and to die!

19. Who is there that will contend with me? For then I would be silent and die.

20. Only grant me two concessions, and then I shall not hide away from your face:

20. Only grant two things to me, then I will not hide myself from thy face:

21. remove your hand, which lies so heavy on me, no longer make me cower from your terror.

21. withdraw thy hand far from me, and let not dread of thee terrify me.

22. Then call me forward and I shall answer, or rather, I shall speak and you will answer.

22. Then call, and I will answer; or let me speak, and do thou reply to me.

23. How many faults and crimes have I committed? Tell me what my misdeed has been, what my sin?

23. How many are my iniquities and my sins? Make me know my transgression and my sin.

24. Why do you hide your face and look on me as your enemy?

24. Why dost thou hide thy face, and count me as thy enemy?

25. Do you want to intimidate a wind-blown leaf, do you want to pursue a dry straw?

25. Wilt thou frighten a driven leaf and pursue dry chaff?

26. You who lay bitter allegations against me and tax me with the faults of my youth

26. For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me inherit the iniquities of my youth.

27. and have put my feet in the stocks; you examine my every step and measure my footprints one by one!

27. Thou puttest my feet in the stocks, and watchest all my paths; thou settest a bound to the soles of my feet.

28. For his part, he crumbles away like rotten wood, or like a moth-eaten garment,

28. Man wastes away like a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten.