Job 13

1 Behold, my eye has seen all these things, and my ear has heard, and I have understood each one.

“Hey, I [SYN] have seen everything [that you have seen], and I have heard and understood all [that you have said].

2 In conformity with your knowledge, I also know. I am not inferior to you.

What you know, I also know; I do (not know less than/know as much as) you.

3 Yet I speak this way to the Almighty, and I desire to argue with God,

But I would like to speak to Almighty God, [not to you]; I would like to argue with him [and prove that I (am innocent/have not done things that are wrong]).

4 having first shown that you fabricate lies and cultivate perverse teachings.

As for you, you do not allow people to know the truth about me, like someone covers [up a bad surface of a wall] with whitewash [MET]. You are all like doctors [MET] [that give people] useless [medicines].

5 And I wish that you would remain silent, so that you would be counted among the wise.

I wish/desire that you would be silent; that would be the wisest thing that you [could do].

6 Therefore, listen to my correction, and pay attention to the judgment of my lips.

Listen to what I will say to you now; listen while I am saying [what is true about myself].

7 Does God require your lie, so that you would speak deceitfully for him?

Are you telling lies about me to prove God [is just in causing me to suffer]? Are you saying what is deceitful in order to benefit him?

8 Have you taken his place, and do you struggle to give judgment in favor of God?

Are you trying to defend him? Are you trying to prove [as you would] in a court that he is innocent?

9 Or, will it please him, from whom nothing can be concealed? Or, will he be deceived, like a man, by your deceitfulness?

If he looks closely, will he find that everything that you have done is good? Or can you deceive him, like you deceive other people?

10 He will accuse you because in secret you have preempted his presence.

If you secretly say/do things to cause God to act favorably toward you, he will surely rebuke you.

11 As soon as he moves himself, he will disturb you, and his dread will fall over you.

He will certainly [RHQ] cause you to be terrified by his power/greatness; you will become extremely afraid.

12 Your remembrance will be compared to ashes, and your necks will be reduced to clay.

The things that you say [that you think are] wise are [as useless as] [MET] as ashes; what you say to defend your opinions is no better than [MET] clay [that quickly crumbles].

13 Be silent for a little while, so that I may speak whatever my mind suggests to me.

“So, be quiet and allow me to speak, and then it will not matter what happens to me.

14 Why do I wound my flesh with my teeth, and carry my soul in my hands?

I am ready to endure anything; I am [even] willing to risk being executed [IDM, DOU] [for what I will say].

15 And now, if he would kill me, I will hope in him; in this, truly, I will correct my ways in his sight.

If God kills me, then I will not have anyone else whom I can confidently expect to help me, but I am going to defend my behavior in his presence [anyway].

16 And he will be my savior, for no hypocrite at all will approach in his sight.

No wicked/godless person would dare to stand in the presence of God, [but because I say that I have not done things that are wrong], perhaps, if I can prove that to God, he will save me.”

17 Listen to my words, and perceive an enigma with your ears.

“God, listen very carefully to what I say [DOU].

18 If I will be judged, I know that I will be found to be just.

I am ready to prove that I am innocent, and I know that you also will declare that I am not guilty.

19 Who is it that will go to judgment with me? Let him approach. Why should I be consumed in silence?

I certainly do not think [RHQ] that [you or anyone else] will say that what I say is not true; if anyone did that, I would (be silent/stop talking) and die.

20 Do not do such things to me twice, and then I will not hide from your face.

“I am requesting you to do two things for me; if you do them, I will (not hide from you/come and stand in front of you) [LIT].

21 Take your hand far away from me, and do not let your dread terrify me.

[The first thing that I request is that you] stop punishing [IDM] me; and [the second thing that I request is that you] stop causing me to be very terrified.

22 Call me, and I will answer you, or else I will speak, and you can answer me.

You speak [first], and then I will reply; or allow me to speak first, and [then] you reply.

23 How many iniquities and sins do I have? Reveal my crimes and offenses to me.

What have I done that is wrong? What sins have I committed? Show me how I have disobeyed you.

24 Why do you conceal your face and consider me to be your enemy?

Why (do you refuse to be friendly with/have you abandoned) me [IDM]? Why do you (act toward me as though I am/consider me to be) your enemy?

25 Against a leaf, which is carried away by the wind, you reveal your power, and you pursue dry straw.

I am [as insignificant as] [MET] a leaf that is blown by the wind; why are you trying to cause me to be afraid [RHQ]? Why are you pursuing me? Am I [useless, nothing more than a bit of] dry chaff [RHQ]?

26 For you write bitter things against me, and you want to consume me for the sins of my youth.

[It seems that] you are writing things to accuse me [of doing things that are wrong], even recalling bad things that I did when I was young.

27 You have put my feet on a tether, and you have observed all my paths, and you have considered the steps of my feet.

[It is as though] you have fastened my feet with chains [to prevent me from walking], and you watch me wherever I walk; [It is as though] you even look closely at my footprints [to see where I have gone].

28 I will be left to decay like something rotten and like a garment that is being eaten by moths.

[As a result], my body is decaying like [SIM] rotten wood, like a piece of cloth that is eaten by [larvae of] moths.”