Job Reproves his Friends
1Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it.
2What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you.
3Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.
4But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.
5O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.
6Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.
7Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?
8Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God?
9Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him?
10He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.
11Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you?
12Your remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.
13Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.
14Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?
15Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
16He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.
17Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.
18Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.
19Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.
20Only do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from thee.
21Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid.
22Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me.
23How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin.
24Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy?
25Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?
26For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth.
27Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet.
28And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth eaten.
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
Job Prepares His Case
1 “Behold, my eye has seen all this. My ear has heard and understood it.
2 What you know, I know also. I am not inferior to you.
3 “Surely I would speak to the Almighty. I desire to reason with God.
4 But you are forgers of lies. You are all physicians of no value.
5 Oh that you would be completely silent! Then you would be wise.
6 Hear now my reasoning. Listen to the pleadings of my lips.
7 Will you speak unrighteously for God, and talk deceitfully for him?
8 Will you show partiality to him? Will you contend for God?
9 Is it good that he should search you out? Or as one deceives a man, will you deceive him?
10 He will surely reprove you if you secretly show partiality.
11 Shall not his majesty make you afraid, And his dread fall on you?
12 Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes, Your defenses are defenses of clay.
13 “Be silent, leave me alone, that I may speak. Let come on me what will.
14 Why should I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand?
15 Behold, he will kill me. I have no hope. Nevertheless, I will maintain my ways before him.
16 This also shall be my salvation, that a godless man shall not come before him.
17 Hear diligently my speech. Let my declaration be in your ears.
18 See now, I have set my cause in order. I know that I am righteous.
19 Who is he who will contend with me? For then would I hold my peace and give up the spirit.
20 “Only don’t do two things to me; then I will not hide myself from your face:
21 withdraw your hand far from me; and don’t let your terror make me afraid.
22 Then call, and I will answer; or let me speak, and you answer me.
23 How many are my iniquities and sins? Make me know my disobedience and my sin.
24 Why hide you your face, and hold me for your enemy?
25 Will you harass a driven leaf? Will you pursue the dry stubble?
26 For you write bitter things against me, and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth:
27 You also put my feet in the stocks, and mark all my paths. You set a bound to the soles of my feet,
28 though I am decaying like a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten.
Job Prepares His Case
1 “Indeed, my eyes have seen all this;
my ears have heard and understood.
2 What you know, I also know;
I am not inferior to you.
3 Yet I desire to speak to the Almighty
and argue my case before God.
4 You, however, smear with lies;
you are all worthless physicians.
5 If only you would remain silent;
for that would be your wisdom!
6 Hear now my argument,
and listen to the plea of my lips.
7 Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf
or speak deceitfully for Him?
8 Would you show Him partiality
or argue in His defense?
9 Would it be well when He examined you?
Could you deceive Him like a man?
10 Surely He would rebuke you
if you secretly showed partiality.
11 Would His majesty not terrify you?
Would the dread of Him not fall upon you?
12 Your maxims are proverbs of ashes;
your defenses are defenses of clay.
13 Be silent, and I will speak.
Then let come to me what may.
14 Why do I put myself at risk a
and take my life in my own hands?
15 Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. b
I will still defend my ways to His face.
16 Moreover, this will be my salvation,
for no godless man can appear before Him.
17 Listen carefully to my words;
let my declaration ring in your ears.
18 Behold, now that I have prepared my case,
I know that I will be vindicated.
19 Can anyone indict me?
If so, I will be silent and die.
20 Only grant these two things to me,
so that I need not hide from You:
21 Withdraw Your hand from me,
and do not let Your terror frighten me.
22 Then call me, and I will answer,
or let me speak, and You can reply.
23 How many are my iniquities and sins?
Reveal to me my transgression and sin.
24 Why do You hide Your face
and consider me as Your enemy?
25 Would You frighten a windblown leaf?
Would You chase after dry chaff?
26 For You record bitter accusations against me
and bequeath to me the iniquities of my youth.
27 You put my feet in the stocks
and stand watch over all my paths;
You set a limit
for the soles of my feet.
28 So man wastes away like something rotten,
like a moth-eaten garment.
Footnotes:
14 a Literally Why do I take my flesh in my teeth
15 b Or I have no other hope
Job Reproves his Friends
1Lo, all -- hath mine eye seen, Heard hath mine ear, and it attendeth to it.
2According to your knowledge I have known -- also I. I am not fallen more than you.
3Yet I for the Mighty One do speak, And to argue for God I delight.
4And yet, ye are forgers of falsehood, Physicians of nought -- all of you,
5O that ye would keep perfectly silent, And it would be to you for wisdom.
6Hear, I pray you, my argument, And to the pleadings of my lips attend,
7For God do ye speak perverseness? And for Him do ye speak deceit?
8His face do ye accept, if for God ye strive?
9Is it good that He doth search you, If, as one mocketh at a man, ye mock at Him?
10He doth surely reprove you, if in secret ye accept faces.
11Doth not His excellency terrify you? And His dread fall upon you?
12Your remembrances are similes of ashes, For high places of clay your heights.
13Keep silent from me, and I speak, And pass over me doth what?
14Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth? And my soul put in my hand?
15Lo, He doth slay me -- I wait not! Only, my ways unto His face I argue.
16Also -- He is to me for salvation, For the profane cometh not before Him.
17Hear ye diligently my word, And my declaration with your ears.
18Lo, I pray you, I have set in order the cause, I have known that I am righteous.
19Who is he that doth strive with me? For now I keep silent and gasp.
20Only two things, O God, do with me: Then from Thy face I am not hidden.
21Thy hand put far off from me, And Thy terror let not terrify me.
22And call Thou, and I -- I answer, Or -- I speak, and answer Thou me.
23How many iniquities and sins have I? My transgression and my sin let me know.
24Why dost Thou hide Thy face? And reckonest me for an enemy to Thee?
25A leaf driven away dost Thou terrify? And the dry stubble dost Thou pursue?
26For Thou writest against me bitter things, And causest me to possess iniquities of my youth:
27And puttest in the stocks my feet, And observest all my paths, On the roots of my feet Thou settest a print,
28And he, as a rotten thing, weareth away, As a garment hath a moth consumed him.
