Job 13

¹ Lo, mine eye hath seen all this , mine ear hath heard and understood it. ² What ye know, I know also: I am not inferior to you. ³ But I will speak to the Almighty, and will find pleasure in reasoning with *God; ⁴ For ye indeed are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value. ⁵ Oh that ye would be altogether silent! and it would be your wisdom. ⁶ Hear now my defence, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips. ⁷ Will ye speak unrighteously for *God? and for him speak deceit? ⁸ Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for *God? ⁹ Will it be well if he should search you out? or as one mocketh at a man, will ye mock at him? ¹⁰ He will certainly reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons. ¹¹ Shall not his excellency terrify you? and his dread fall upon you? ¹² Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes, your bulwarks are bulwarks of mire.

¹³ Hold your peace from me, and I will speak, and let come on me what will ! ¹⁴ Wherefore should I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand? ¹⁵ Behold, if he slay me, yet would I trust in him; but I will defend mine own ways before him. ¹⁶ This also shall be my salvation, that a profane man shall not come before his face. ¹⁷ Hear attentively my speech and my declaration with your ears. ¹⁸ Behold now, I have ordered the cause; I know that I shall be justified. ¹⁹ Who is he that contendeth with me? For if I were silent now, I should expire. ²⁰ Only do not two things unto me; then will I not hide myself from thee. ²¹ Withdraw thy hand far from me; and let not thy terror make me afraid: ²² Then call, and I will answer; or I will speak, and answer thou me.

²³ How many are mine iniquities and sins? Make me to know my transgression and my sin. ²⁴ Wherefore dost thou hide thy face, and countest me for thine enemy? ²⁵ Wilt thou terrify a driven leaf? and wilt thou pursue dry stubble? ²⁶ For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth; ²⁷ And thou puttest my feet in the stocks, and markest all my paths; thou settest a bound about the soles of my feet; -- ²⁸ One who, as a rotten thing consumeth, as a garment that the moth eateth.