| 1 | [Job continued:] Behold, my eye has seen all this, my ear has heard and understood it. |
| 2 | What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you. |
| 3 | Surely I wish to speak to the Almighty, and I desire to argue
and
reason my case with God [that He may explain the conflict between what I believe of Him and what I see of Him]. |
| 4 | But you are forgers of lies [you defame my character most untruthfully]; you are all physicians of no value
and
have no remedy to offer. |
| 5 | Oh, that you would altogether hold your peace! Then you would evidence your wisdom
and
you might pass for wise men. |
| 6 | Hear now my reasoning, and listen to the pleadings of my lips. |
| 7 | Will you speak unrighteously for God and talk deceitfully for Him? |
| 8 | Will you show partiality to Him [be unjust to me in order to gain favor with Him]? Will you act as special pleaders for God? |
| 9 | Would it be profitable for you if He should investigate your tactics [with me]? Or as one deceives
and
mocks a man, do you deceive
and
mock Him? |
| 10 | He will surely reprove you if you do secretly show partiality. |
| 11 | Shall not His majesty make you afraid, and should not your awe for Him restrain you? |
| 12 | Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes [valueless]; your defenses are defenses of clay [and will crumble]. |
| 13 | Hold your peace! Let me alone, so I may speak; and let come on me what may. |
| 14 | Why should I take my flesh in my teeth and put my life in my hands [incurring the danger of God’s wrath]? |
| 15 | [I do it because, though He slay me, yet will I wait for and trust Him and] behold, He will slay me; I have no hope—nevertheless, I will maintain
and
argue my ways before Him
and
even to His face. |
| 16 | This will be my salvation, that a polluted
and
godless man shall not come before Him. |
| 17 | Listen diligently to my speech, and let my declaration be in your ears. |
| 18 | Behold now, I have prepared my case; I know that I shall be justified
and
vindicated. |
| 19 | Who is he who will argue against
and
refute me? For then I would hold my peace and expire. |
| 20 | Only [O Lord] grant two conditions to me, and then will I not hide myself from You: |
| 21 | Withdraw Your hand and take this bodily suffering far from me; and let not my [reverent] dread of You terrify me. |
| 22 | Then [Lord] call and I will answer, or let me speak, and You answer me. |
| 23 | How many are my iniquities and sins [that so much sorrow should come to me]? Make me recognize
and
know my transgression and my sin. |
| 24 | Why do You hide Your face [as if offended] and alienate me as if I were Your enemy? |
| 25 | Will You harass
and
frighten a [poor, helpless] leaf driven to and fro, and will You pursue the chaff of the dry stubble? |
| 26 | For You write bitter things against me [in Your bill of indictment] and make me inherit
and
be accountable now for the iniquities of my youth. |
| 27 | You put my feet also in the stocks and observe critically all my paths; You set a circle
and
limit around the soles of my feet [which I must not overstep]. |
| 28 | And he wastes away as a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten. |
Cross references:
-
Job 13:23 : Rom. 8:1.
|