Job 13

¹ Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it.

² What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you.

³ Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.

⁴ But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.

⁵ O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.

⁶ Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.

⁷ Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?

⁸ Will ye show partiality for him? will ye contend for God?

⁹ Should it be told of him, he will speak, or of him, he will answer, or of him, he will judge?

¹⁰ But he is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and prospered?

¹¹ Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?

¹² Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers.

¹³ But hold ye your peace, let me speak, and let come on me what will.

¹⁴ Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?

¹⁵ Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

¹⁶ He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.

¹⁷ Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.

¹⁸ Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.

¹⁹ Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.

²⁰ Only do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from your face.

²¹ Withdraw your hand far from me: and let not dread of you make me afraid.

²² Then call you, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer you.

²³ How many wrongs and sins have I committed? make me to know my transgression and my sin.

²⁴ Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy?

²⁵ Wilt thou frighten a driven leaf? and pursue the dry stubble?

²⁶ For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the sins of my youth.

²⁷ Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths, and markest all my ways: thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet.

²⁸ And he is before God as one guilty, as one abominable, and perverse.