ApostleCourageous honesty

Job 13

Job: Though He Slay Me, I Will Still Argue My Case

My Eye Has Seen These Things

13:1“Look, my eye has seen these things,
and my ear has heard them.

13:2I know as much as you know,
and I am not less intelligent than you.

13:3But indeed, I will speak to the Lord;
I will argue before Him, if He is willing.

13:4But you are unjust physicians
and healers of evils, all of you.

13:5May you be silent;
it will turn out to be wisdom for you.

13:6Hear the reproof of my mouth;
attend to the judgment of my lips.

13:7Are you not speaking before the Lord,
and uttering deceit before Him?

13:8Will you shrink back?
Become judges yourselves.

13:9Fine indeed, if He examines you!
For if, doing everything, you attach yourselves to Him,

13:10He will reprove you nonetheless.
Even if you secretly admire persons,

13:11will not His terrors whirl you about,
and fear from Him fall upon you?

13:12Your boasting will turn out like ashes,
and your body will be clay.

13:13Be silent, so that I may speak
and rest from anger,

13:14taking my flesh up in my teeth,
while I will put my life in my hand.

13:15If the Mighty One subdues me, as He has already begun,
I will surely speak and argue before Him.

13:16This will turn out to be deliverance for me,
for deceit will not enter before Him.

13:17Listen, listen to my words,
for I will declare while you hear.

13:18Look, I am near my judgment;
I know that I will be shown righteous.

13:19For who is there to enter judgment with me?
For now I will be silent and fail.

13:20But grant me two things;
then I will not hide from Your face:

13:21Keep Your hand away from me,
and let Your terror not overwhelm me.

13:22Then You will call, and I will answer You;
or You will speak, and I will give You a reply.

13:23How many are my sins and lawless deeds?
Teach me what they are.

13:24Why do You hide from me
and regard me as opposed to You?

13:25Will You be wary of a leaf moved by wind,
or oppose me as grass carried by a breeze?

13:26For You recorded evils against me
and put the sins of youth around me.

13:27You put my foot in a restraint
and watched all my works;
You reached to the roots of my feet.

13:28It grows old like a wineskin,
or like a moth-eaten garment.

Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.