LEB JOB Chapter 13

Job’s Fourth Speech Continues

• 13 “Look, my eye has seen everything;
• my ear has heard and has understood it.
• 2 What you[fn] know ,[fn] I myself[fn] also know—
• I am not more inferior than you.[fn]
• 3 But I would speak to Shaddai,
• and I desire to argue with God.
• 4 “But[fn] you[fn] whitewash with lies ;[fn]
• all of you[fn] are worthless healers .[fn]
• 5 O that[fn] you[fn] would keep completely silent,
• and that it would become wisdom for you.[fn]
• 6 Please hear my argument,
• and listen attentively to the pleadings of my lips.
• 7 “Will you[fn] speak falsely for God?
• And will you[fn] speak deceitfully for him?
• 8 Will you[fn] show partiality for him ?[fn]
• Or do you[fn] want to plead God’s case?
• 9 Will it be well, if he examines you?[fn]
• Or can you[fn] deceive him like deceiving a human being?
• 10 “Surely he will rebuke you[fn]
• if you[fn] show partiality[fn] in secret.
• 11 Will not his majesty terrify you,[fn]
• and his dread fall upon you?[fn]
• 12 Your[fn] maxims are proverbs of ashes;
• your[fn] defenses are defenses of clay.
• 13 “ Let me have silence ,[fn] and I myself[fn] will speak,
• and let come over me whatever may.
• 14 Why should I take my flesh in my teeth
• and[fn] put[fn] my life in my hand?
• 15 Look,[fn] though he kill me, I will hope in[fn] him;
• however, I will defend my ways before him .[fn]
• 16 Moreover, this is salvation to me,
• that the godless would not come before him .[fn]
• 17 “Listen carefully to my words,
• and let my exposition be in your ears.
• 18 Please look,[fn] I have prepared my case;
• I know that I myself[fn] will be vindicated.
• 19 Who is he who will contend with me?
• For then I would be silent, and I would pass away.

Job Argues His Case with God

• 20 “Only you[fn] must not do these two things to me;
• then I will not hide from your face:
• 21 withdraw your[fn] hand from me,
• and let not your[fn] dread terrify me.
• 22 Then[fn] call, and I myself[fn] will answer;
• or let me speak, then[fn] reply to me.
• 23 “ How many[fn] are my iniquities and sins?
• Make known to me my transgression and my sin.
• 24 Why do you[fn] hide your[fn] face
• and count me as your[fn] enemy?
• 25 Will you[fn] terrify a blown leaf?
• And will you[fn] pursue dry stubble?
• 26 “Indeed, you[fn] write bitter things against me,
• and you[fn] make me reap the iniquities of my childhood.
• 27 And you[fn] put my feet in the block,
• and you[fn] watch all my paths;
• you carve a mark on the soles of my feet.[fn]
• 28 And he himself[fn]wastes away like something rotten,
• like a garment that the moth has eaten.