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13 “I have seen all this before.
    I have already heard everything you say.
    I understand all these things.
I know as much as you do.
    I am as smart as you are.
But I don’t want to argue with you.
    I want to speak to God All-Powerful.
    I want to argue with God about my troubles.
But you men try to cover up your ignorance with lies.
    You are like worthless doctors who cannot heal anyone.
I wish you would just be quiet.
    That would be the wisest thing you could do.

“Now, listen to my argument.
    Listen to what I have to say.
Will you speak lies for God?
    Do you really believe your lies are what God wants you to say?
Are you trying to defend God against me?
    You are not being fair.
    You are choosing God’s side simply because he is God.
If God checked you very closely,
    would he see that you are right?
Do you really think you can fool God
    the same as you fool people?
10 You know that God would criticize you
    if you chose someone’s side simply because they were important.
11 God’s majesty frightens you.
    You are afraid of him.
12 The wise sayings you quote are worthless.
    Your arguments are as weak as clay.

13 “Be quiet and let me talk!
    I accept whatever happens to me.
14 I will put myself in danger
    and take my life in my own hands.
15 I will continue to trust God even if he kills me.[a]
    But I will defend myself to his face.
16 And if he lets me live, it will be because I had the confidence to speak.
    No guilty person would dare meet God face to face.
17 Listen carefully to what I say.
    Let me explain.
18 I am ready now to defend myself.
    I will carefully present my arguments.
    I know I will be shown to be right.
19 If anyone can prove I am wrong,
    I will shut up and wait to die.

20 “God, just give me two things,
    and then I will not hide from you:
21 Stop punishing me,
    and don’t frighten me with your terrors.
22 Then call to me, and I will answer you.
    Or let me speak, and you answer me.
23 How many sins have I committed?
    What wrongs have I done?
    Show me where I went wrong or how I sinned.
24 God, why do you avoid me
    and treat me like your enemy?
25 Are you trying to scare me?
    I am only a leaf blowing in the wind.
    You are attacking a piece of straw!
26 You have a list of terrible charges against me.
    Are you making me suffer for the sins I did when I was young?
27 You have put chains on my feet.
    You watch every step I take.
    You see every move I make.
28 So I am becoming weaker and weaker,
    like a piece of wood rotting away,
    like a piece of cloth eaten by moths.

Footnotes

  1. Job 13:15 I will … kills me Or “If he decides to kill me, I have no hope.”

13 “My eyes have seen all this,(A)
    my ears have heard and understood it.
What you know, I also know;
    I am not inferior to you.(B)
But I desire to speak to the Almighty(C)
    and to argue my case with God.(D)
You, however, smear me with lies;(E)
    you are worthless physicians,(F) all of you!(G)
If only you would be altogether silent!(H)
    For you, that would be wisdom.(I)
Hear now my argument;
    listen to the pleas of my lips.(J)
Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf?
    Will you speak deceitfully for him?(K)
Will you show him partiality?(L)
    Will you argue the case for God?
Would it turn out well if he examined you?(M)
    Could you deceive him as you might deceive a mortal?(N)
10 He would surely call you to account
    if you secretly showed partiality.(O)
11 Would not his splendor(P) terrify you?
    Would not the dread of him fall on you?(Q)
12 Your maxims are proverbs of ashes;
    your defenses are defenses of clay.(R)

13 “Keep silent(S) and let me speak;(T)
    then let come to me what may.(U)
14 Why do I put myself in jeopardy
    and take my life in my hands?(V)
15 Though he slay me, yet will I hope(W) in him;(X)
    I will surely[a] defend my ways to his face.(Y)
16 Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance,(Z)
    for no godless(AA) person would dare come before him!(AB)
17 Listen carefully to what I say;(AC)
    let my words ring in your ears.
18 Now that I have prepared my case,(AD)
    I know I will be vindicated.(AE)
19 Can anyone bring charges against me?(AF)
    If so, I will be silent(AG) and die.(AH)

20 “Only grant me these two things, God,
    and then I will not hide from you:
21 Withdraw your hand(AI) far from me,
    and stop frightening me with your terrors.(AJ)
22 Then summon me and I will answer,(AK)
    or let me speak, and you reply to me.(AL)
23 How many wrongs and sins have I committed?(AM)
    Show me my offense and my sin.(AN)
24 Why do you hide your face(AO)
    and consider me your enemy?(AP)
25 Will you torment(AQ) a windblown leaf?(AR)
    Will you chase(AS) after dry chaff?(AT)
26 For you write down bitter things against me
    and make me reap the sins of my youth.(AU)
27 You fasten my feet in shackles;(AV)
    you keep close watch on all my paths(AW)
    by putting marks on the soles of my feet.

28 “So man wastes away like something rotten,
    like a garment(AX) eaten by moths.(AY)

Footnotes

  1. Job 13:15 Or He will surely slay me; I have no hope — / yet I will