13:1 “Behold, my eye has seen all this,
My ear has heard and understood it.
13:2 What you know I also know;
I am not inferior to you.
13:3 “But I would speak to ①the Almighty,
And I desire to argue with God.
▷ ①Heb Shaddai
13:4 But you smear me with lies;
You are all worthless physicians.
13:5 Oh that you would be completely silent,
And that it would become your wisdom!
13:6 Please hear my argument,
And give your attention to the contentions of my lips.
13:7 Will you speak what is unjust for God,
And speak what is deceitful for Him?
13:8 Will you show partiality for Him?
Will you contend for God?
13:9 Will it go well when He examines you?
Or will you deceive Him as one deceives a man?
13:10 He will certainly punish you
If you secretly show partiality.
13:11 Will His ①majesty not terrify you,
And the dread of Him fall upon you?
▷ ①Lit exaltation
13:12 Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes,
Your defenses are defenses of clay.
13:13 “Be silent before me so that I may speak;
Then let come upon me what may.
13:14 Why should I take my flesh in my teeth,
And put my life in my ①hands?
▷ ①Lit palm
13:15 Though He slay me,
I will ①hope in Him.
Nevertheless I will argue my ways ②before Him.
▷ ①Lit wait for ②Lit to His face
13:16 This also will be my salvation,
For a godless person cannot come before His presence.
13:17 Listen carefully to my speech,
And let my declaration fill your ears.
13:18 Behold now, I have prepared my case;
I know that I will be vindicated.
13:19 Who could contend with me?
For then I would be silent and die.
13:20 “Only two things I ask that You do not do to me,
Then I will not hide from Your face:
13:21 Remove Your ①hand from me,
And may the dread of You not terrify me.
▷ ①Lit palm
13:22 Then call and I will answer;
Or let me speak, then reply to me.
13:23 How many are my guilty deeds and sins?
Make known to me my wrongdoing and my sin.
13:24 Why do You hide Your face
And consider me Your enemy?
13:25 Will You scare away a scattered leaf?
Or will You pursue the dry chaff?
13:26 For You write bitter things against me
And make me inherit the guilty deeds of my youth.
13:27 You put my feet in the stocks
And watch all my paths;
You ①set a limit for the soles of my feet,
▷ ①Lit carve for
13:28 While ①I am decaying like a rotten thing,
Like a garment that is moth-eaten.
▷ ①Lit he is