Job 13
Literal Standard Version
Chapter overview
Job dismisses his friends as worthless physicians who plaster over the truth and speak falsely on God's behalf. Determined to argue his case directly, he says he will hold to his way even if he is slain for it, and asks God only to withdraw the terror so that he can speak.
IntegrityFalse counselDivine hearingCourage
1“Behold, my eye has seen all, || My ear has heard, and it attends to it.
2According to your knowledge I have known—also I. I am not more fallen than you.
3Yet I speak for the Mighty One, || And I delight to argue for God.
4And yet, you [are] forgers of falsehood, || Physicians of nothing—all of you,
5O that you would keep perfectly silent, || And it would be to you for wisdom.
6Please hear my argument, || And attend to the pleadings of my lips,
7Do you speak perverseness for God? And do you speak deceit for Him?
8Do you accept His face, if you strive for God?
9Is [it] good that He searches you, || If, as one mocks at a man, you mock at Him?
10He surely reproves you, if you accept faces in secret.
11Does His excellence not terrify you? And His dread fall on you?
12Your remembrances [are] allegories of ashes, || For high places of clay [are] your heights.
13Keep silent from me, and I speak, || And pass over me what will.
14Why do I take my flesh in my teeth? And my soul put in my hand?
15Behold, He slays me—I do not wait! Only, I argue my ways to His face.
16Also—He [is] to me for salvation, || For the profane do not come before Him.
17Hear my word diligently, || And my declaration with your ears.
18Now behold, I have set the cause in order, || I have known that I am righteous.
19Who [is] he that strives with me? For now I keep silent and gasp.
20Only two things, O God, do with me, || Then I am not hidden from Your face:
21Put Your hand far off from me, || And do not let Your terror terrify me.
22And You call, and I answer, || Or—I speak, and You answer me.
23How many iniquities and sins do I have? Let me know my transgression and my sin.
24Why do You hide Your face? And reckon me for an enemy to You?
25Do You terrify a leaf driven away? And do You pursue the dry stubble?
26For You write bitter things against me, || And cause me to possess iniquities of my youth,
27And you put my feet in the stocks, || And observe all my paths—You set a print on the roots of my feet,
28And he, as a rotten thing, wears away, || A moth has consumed him as a garment.”
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