Job 13
1BEHOLD these things mine eye hath seen and mine ear heard:
2for I know all that you know and am not inferior to you in knowledge.
3Nevertheless I would speak to the Lord; and argue before Him, were it His pleasure.
4Now you are all bad physicians and curers of maladies.
5Could you hold your peace, it would be your wisdom.
6Hear now the argument of my mouth and the pleading of my lips.
7Are you not speaking in the presence of the Lord?
8And do you in His presence utter deceit in a solemn manner? Or will you keep back anything? Judge for yourselves.
9For will it be well for you, if He mark your steps? For though feigning all these things you apply them for Him:
10He will, notwithstanding this, reprove you. And if you secretly respect persons,
11will not His awful majesty confound you; and the terror of Him fall upon you?
12And your boasting be dissipated like ashes; and your bodies be reduced to clay.
13Keep silence that I may speak, and have some respite from wrath.
14Taking my flesh in my teeth I will put my life in my hand.
15Though the Almighty, as He hath begun, may subdue me: yet I will speak and plead before Him.
16And this will contribute to my deliverance: for no deceit shall come before Him.
17Hear, hear my words: for I will proclaim them in your hearing.
18Behold I am near my trial. I know that I shall appear just.
19For who is there who will plead for me? For now I will be silent and expire.
20Now two things Thou art to grant me: then I will not hide myself from Thy presence—
21withdraw Thy hand from me: and let not the dread of Thee overwhelm me with terror.
22Then call and I will answer Thee: or speak and I will make Thee a reply.
23How many are my sins and mine iniquities? Teach me what they are.
24Why dost Thou hide Thyself from me and hast accounted me Thine adversary?
25Canst Thou be afraid of one who is like a leaf moved with a breath of wind? Or as against dried grass carried away with a blast, dost Thou set thyself against me?
26For thou hast written evil things against me; and laid to my charge the inadvertencies of youth;
27and put my feet in a clog and watched all my doings; and hast tracked the soles of my feet.