Job Defends Himself
1 “Behold, my eye has seen all this,
My ear has heard and understood it.
1 “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.
I am not inferior to you.
3 But I would speak to the Almighty,
And I desire to reason with God.
And I desire to reason with God.
4 But you forgers of lies,
You are all worthless physicians.
You are all worthless physicians.
5 Oh, that you would be silent,
And it would be your wisdom!
And it would be your wisdom!
6 Now hear my reasoning,
And heed the pleadings of my lips.
And heed the pleadings of my lips.
7 Will you speak [a]wickedly for God,
And talk deceitfully for Him?
And talk deceitfully for Him?
8 Will you show partiality for Him?
Will you contend for God?
Will you contend for God?
9 Will it be well when He searches you out?
Or can you mock Him as one mocks a man?
Or can you mock Him as one mocks a man?
10 He will surely rebuke you
If you secretly show partiality.
If you secretly show partiality.
11 Will not His [b]excellence make you afraid,
And the dread of Him fall upon you?
And the dread of Him fall upon you?
12 Your platitudes are proverbs of ashes,
Your defenses are defenses of clay.
Your defenses are defenses of clay.
13 “Hold[c] your peace with me, and let me speak,
Then let come on me what may!
Then let come on me what may!
14 Why do I take my flesh in my teeth,
And put my life in my hands?
And put my life in my hands?
15 Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.
Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.
Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.
16 He also shall be my salvation,
For a hypocrite could not come before Him.
For a hypocrite could not come before Him.
17 Listen carefully to my speech,
And to my declaration with your ears.
And to my declaration with your ears.
18 See now, I have prepared my case,
I know that I shall be vindicated.
I know that I shall be vindicated.
19 Who is he who will contend with me?
If now I hold my tongue, I perish.
If now I hold my tongue, I perish.
Job’s Despondent Prayer
20 “Only two things do not do to me,
Then I will not hide myself from You:
20 “Only two things do not do to me,
Then I will not hide myself from You:
21 Withdraw Your hand far from me,
And let not the dread of You make me afraid.
And let not the dread of You make me afraid.
22 Then call, and I will answer;
Or let me speak, then You respond to me.
Or let me speak, then You respond to me.
23 How many are my iniquities and sins?
Make me know my transgression and my sin.
Make me know my transgression and my sin.
24 Why do You hide Your face,
And regard me as Your enemy?
And regard me as Your enemy?
25 Will You frighten a leaf driven to and fro?
And will You pursue dry stubble?
And will You pursue dry stubble?
26 For You write bitter things against me,
And make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.
And make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.
27 You put my feet in the stocks,
And watch closely all my paths.
You [d]set a limit for the [e]soles of my feet.
And watch closely all my paths.
You [d]set a limit for the [e]soles of my feet.
28 “Man[f] decays like a rotten thing,
Like a garment that is moth-eaten.
Like a garment that is moth-eaten.