Chapter 13
1 " Behold , my eye has seen all this . My ear has heard and understood it .
2 What you know , I know also . I am not inferior to you .
3 " Surely I would speak to the Almighty . I desire to reason with God.
4 But you are forgers of lies . You are all physicians of no value.
5 Oh that you would be completely silent ! Then you would be wise .
6 Hear now my reasoning . 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 ? Will you contend for God?
9 Is it good that he should search you out ? Or as one deceives a man , will you deceive him ?
10 He will surely reprove you if you secretly show partiality .
11 Won’t his majesty make you afraid and his dread fall on you ?
12 Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes. Your defences are defences of clay .
13 " Be silent ! Leave me alone , that I may speak . Let come on me what will .
14 Why should I take my flesh in my teeth , and put my life in my hand ?
15 Behold , he will kill me . I have no hope . Nevertheless, I will maintain my ways before him .
16 This also will be my salvation , that a godless man will not come before him .
17 Listen carefully to my speech . Let my declaration be in your ears.
18 See now , I have set my cause in order . I know that I am righteous .
19 Who is he who will contend with me ? For then I would hold my peace and give up the spirit.
20 "Only don’t do two things to me , then I will not hide myself from your face :
21 withdraw your hand far from me , and don’t let your terror make me afraid .
22 Then call , and I will answer , or let me speak , and you answer me .
23 How many are my iniquities and sins ? Make me know my disobedience and my sin .
24 Why do you hide your face , and consider me your enemy?
25 Will you harass a driven leaf ? Will you pursue the dry stubble ?
26 For you write bitter things against me , and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth .
27 You also put my feet in the stocks , and mark all my paths. You set a bound to the soles of my feet ,
28 though I am decaying like a rotten thing , like a garment that is moth-eaten .