Job 13

¹ Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it.

² What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you.

³ Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.

⁴ But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.

⁵ Oh that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.

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

⁷ Will ye speak unrighteously for God, and talk deceitfully for him?

⁸ Will ye respect his person? will ye contend for God?

⁹ Is it good that he should search you out? or as one deceiveth a man, will ye deceive him?

¹⁰ He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly respect persons.

¹¹ Shall not his excellency make you afraid, and his dread fall upon you?

¹² Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes, your defences are defences of clay.

¹³ Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what wilt.

¹⁴ Wherefore should I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?

¹⁵ Though he slay me, yet will I wait for him: nevertheless I will maintain my ways before him.

¹⁶ This also shall be my salvation; for a godless man shall not come before him.

¹⁷ Hear diligently my speech, and let my declaration be in your ears.

¹⁸ Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I am righteous.

¹⁹ Who is he that will contend with me? for now shall I hold my peace and give up the ghost.

²⁰ Only do not two things unto me, then will I not hide myself from thy face:

²¹ Withdraw thine hand far from me; and let not thy terror make me afraid.

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

²³ How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin.

²⁴ Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy?

²⁵ Wilt thou harass a driven leaf? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?

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

²⁷ Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and markest all my paths; thou drawest thee a line about the soles of my feet:

²⁸ Though I am like a rotten thing that consumeth, like a garment that is moth-eaten.