Job 13 - Amplified Bible(AMP)

Job Says His Friends’ Proverbs Are Ashes

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¶“But I wish to speak to the Almighty,

And I desire to argue with God.

4“But you smear me with lies;

You are all worthless physicians and have no remedy to offer.

5“Oh, that you would be completely silent,

And that silence would be your wisdom!

6“Please hear my argument

And listen to the pleadings of my lips.

7“Will you speak what is unjust for God,

And speak what is deceitful for Him?

8“Will you show partiality for Him?

Will you contend and plead for God?

9“Will it be well for you when He investigates you?

Or will you deceive Him as one deceives a man?

10“He will surely reprimand you

If you secretly show partiality.

11“Will not His majesty terrify you,

And will not the dread of Him fall upon you?

12“Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes;

Your defenses are defenses of clay.

Job Is Sure He Will Be Vindicated

13¶“Be silent before me so that I may speak;

And let happen to me what may.

14“Why should I take my flesh in my teeth

And put my life in my hands?

15“Even though He kills me;

I will hope in Him.

Nevertheless, I will argue my ways to His face.

16“This also will be my salvation,

For a godless man may not come before Him.

17“Listen diligently to my speech,

And let my declaration fill your ears.

18“Behold now, I have prepared my case;

I know that I will be vindicated.

19“Who will argue and contend with me?

For then I would be silent and die.

20¶“Only do not do two things to me,

And then I will not hide myself from Your face:

21Withdraw Your hand from me and remove this bodily suffering,

And let not the dread of You terrify me.

22“Then call, and I will answer;

Or let me speak, and then reply to me.

23“How many are my iniquities and sins?

Make me recognize and understand my transgression and my sin.

24“Why do You hide Your face

And consider me Your enemy?

25“Will You cause a windblown leaf to tremble?

Will You pursue the chaff of the dry stubble?

26“For You write bitter things against me

And make me inherit and suffer for the iniquities of my youth.

27“You also put my feet in the stocks

And observe all my paths;

You set a circle and limit around the soles of my feet,

28While I waste away like a rotten thing,

Like a garment that is moth-eaten.