Job 13:1-18

Job 13:1-19 The Message (MSG)

“Yes, I’ve seen all this with my own eyes, heard and understood it with my very own ears. Everything you know, I know, so I’m not taking a backseat to any of you. I’m taking my case straight to God Almighty; I’ve had it with you—I’m going directly to God. You graffiti my life with lies. You’re a bunch of pompous quacks! I wish you’d shut your mouths— silence is your only claim to wisdom. “Listen now while I make my case, consider my side of things for a change. Or are you going to keep on lying ‘to do God a service’? to make up stories ‘to get him off the hook’? Why do you always take his side? Do you think he needs a lawyer to defend himself? How would you fare if you were in the witness stand? Your lies might convince a jury—but would they convince God? He’d reprimand you on the spot if he detected a bias in your witness. Doesn’t his splendor put you in awe? Aren’t you afraid to speak cheap lies before him? Your wise sayings are knickknack wisdom, good for nothing but gathering dust. “So hold your tongue while I have my say, then I’ll take whatever I have coming to me. Why do I go out on a limb like this and take my life in my hands? Because even if he killed me, I’d keep on hoping. I’d defend my innocence to the very end. Just wait, this is going to work out for the best—my salvation! If I were guilt-stricken do you think I’d be doing this— laying myself on the line before God? You’d better pay attention to what I’m telling you, listen carefully with both ears. Now that I’ve laid out my defense, I’m sure that I’ll be acquitted. Can anyone prove charges against me? I’ve said my piece. I rest my case.

Job 13:1-18 King James Version (KJV)

Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, Mine ear hath heard and understood it. What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you. Surely I would speak to the Almighty, And I desire to reason with God. But ye are forgers of lies, Ye are all physicians of no value. O that ye would altogether hold your peace! And it should be your wisdom. Hear now my reasoning, And hearken to the pleadings of my lips. Will ye speak wickedly for God? And talk deceitfully for him? Will ye accept his person? Will ye contend for God? Is it good that he should search you out? Or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him? He will surely reprove you, If ye do secretly accept persons. Shall not his excellency make you afraid? And his dread fall upon you? Your remembrances are like unto ashes, Your bodies to bodies of clay. Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, And let come on me what will. Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, And put my life in mine hand? Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: But I will maintain mine own ways before him. He also shall be my salvation: For an hypocrite shall not come before him. Hear diligently my speech, And my declaration with your ears. Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.

Job 13:1-18 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)

“Behold, my eye has seen all this, My ear has heard and understood it. What you know I also know; I am not inferior to you. “But I would speak to the Almighty, And I desire to argue with God. But you smear with lies; You are all worthless physicians. O that you would be completely silent, And that it would become your wisdom! Please hear my argument And listen to the contentions of my lips. Will you speak what is unjust for God, And speak what is deceitful for Him? Will you show partiality for Him? Will you contend for God? Will it be well when He examines you? Or will you deceive Him as one deceives a man? He will surely reprove you If you secretly show partiality. Will not His majesty terrify you, And the dread of Him fall on you? Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes, Your defenses are defenses of clay. “Be silent before me so that I may speak; Then let come on me what may. Why should I take my flesh in my teeth And put my life in my hands? Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. Nevertheless I will argue my ways before Him. This also will be my salvation, For a godless man may not come before His presence. Listen carefully to my speech, And let my declaration fill your ears. Behold now, I have prepared my case; I know that I will be vindicated.

Job 13:1-18 New Century Version (NCV)

“Now my eyes have seen all this; my ears have heard and understood it. What you know, I also know. You are not better than I am. But I want to speak to the Almighty and to argue my case with God. But you smear me with lies. You are worthless doctors, all of you! I wish you would just stop talking; then you would really be wise! Listen to my argument, and hear the pleading of my lips. You should not speak evil in the name of God; you cannot speak God’s truth by telling lies. You should not unfairly choose his side against mine; you should not argue the case for God. You will not do well if he examines you; you cannot fool God as you might fool humans. God would surely scold you if you unfairly took one person’s side. His bright glory would scare you, and you would be very much afraid of him. Your wise sayings are worth no more than ashes, and your arguments are as weak as clay. “Be quiet and let me speak. Let things happen to me as they will. Why should I put myself in danger and take my life in my own hands? Even if God kills me, I have hope in him; I will still defend my ways to his face. This is my salvation. The wicked cannot come before him. Listen carefully to my words; let your ears hear what I say. See, I have prepared my case, and I know I will be proved right.

Job 13:1-18 American Standard Version (ASV)

Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, Mine ear hath heard and understood it. What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you. Surely I would speak to the Almighty, And I desire to reason with God. But ye are forgers of lies; Ye are all physicians of no value. Oh that ye would altogether hold your peace! And it would be your wisdom. Hear now my reasoning, And hearken to the pleadings of my lips. Will ye speak unrighteously for God, And talk deceitfully for him? Will ye show partiality to him? Will ye contend for God? Is it good that he should search you out? Or as one deceiveth a man, will ye deceive him? He will surely reprove you, If ye do secretly show partiality. Shall not his majesty make you afraid, And his dread fall upon you? Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes, Your defences are defences of clay. Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak; And let come on me what will. Wherefore should I take my flesh in my teeth, And put my life in my hand? Behold, he will slay me; I have no hope: Nevertheless I will maintain my ways before him. This also shall be my salvation, That a godless man shall not come before him. Hear diligently my speech, And let my declaration be in your ears. Behold now, I have set my cause in order; I know that I am righteous.

Job 13:1-18 New International Version (NIV)

“My eyes have seen all this, my ears have heard and understood it. What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you. But I desire to speak to the Almighty and to argue my case with God. You, however, smear me with lies; you are worthless physicians, all of you! If only you would be altogether silent! For you, that would be wisdom. Hear now my argument; listen to the pleas of my lips. Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf? Will you speak deceitfully for him? Will you show him partiality? Will you argue the case for God? Would it turn out well if he examined you? Could you deceive him as you might deceive a mortal? He would surely call you to account if you secretly showed partiality. Would not his splendor terrify you? Would not the dread of him fall on you? Your maxims are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay. “Keep silent and let me speak; then let come to me what may. Why do I put myself in jeopardy and take my life in my hands? Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face. Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance, for no godless person would dare come before him! Listen carefully to what I say; let my words ring in your ears. Now that I have prepared my case, I know I will be vindicated.

Job 13:1-18 New King James Version (NKJV)

“Behold, my eye has seen all this, My ear has heard and understood it. What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you. But I would speak to the Almighty, And I desire to reason with God. But you forgers of lies, You are all worthless physicians. Oh, that you would be silent, And it would be your wisdom! Now hear my reasoning, And heed the pleadings of my lips. Will you speak wickedly for God, And talk deceitfully for Him? Will you show partiality for Him? Will you contend for God? Will it be well when He searches you out? Or can you mock Him as one mocks a man? He will surely rebuke you If you secretly show partiality. Will not His excellence make you afraid, And the dread of Him fall upon you? Your platitudes are proverbs of ashes, Your defenses are defenses of clay. “Hold your peace with me, and let me speak, Then let come on me what may! Why do I take my flesh in my teeth, And put my life in my hands? Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him. He also shall be my salvation, For a hypocrite could not come before Him. Listen carefully to my speech, And to my declaration with your ears. See now, I have prepared my case, I know that I shall be vindicated.

Job 13:1-18 Amplified Bible (AMP)

[Job continued:] “Behold, my eye has seen all this, My ear has heard and understood it. “What you know I also know; I am not inferior to you. ¶“But I wish to speak to the Almighty, And I desire to argue with God. “But you smear me with lies [you defame my character most untruthfully]; You are all worthless physicians and have no remedy to offer. “Oh, that you would be completely silent, And that silence would be your wisdom! “Please hear my argument And listen to the pleadings of my lips. “Will you speak what is unjust for God, And speak what is deceitful for Him? “Will you show partiality for Him [and be unjust to me so that you may gain favor with Him]? Will you contend and plead for God? “Will it be well for you when He investigates you [and your tactics against me]? Or will you deceive Him as one deceives a man? “He will surely reprimand you If you secretly show partiality. “Will not His majesty terrify you, And will not the dread of Him fall upon you? “Your memorable sayings are [worthless, merely] proverbs of ashes; Your defenses are defenses of [crumbling] clay. ¶“Be silent before me so that I may speak; And let happen to me what may. “Why should I take my flesh in my teeth And put my life in my hands [incurring the wrath of God]? “Even though He kills me; I will hope in Him. Nevertheless, I will argue my ways to His face. “This also will be my salvation, For a godless man may not come before Him. “Listen diligently to my speech, And let my declaration fill your ears. “Behold now, I have prepared my case; I know that I will be vindicated.

Job 13:1-18 New Living Translation (NLT)

“Look, I have seen all this with my own eyes and heard it with my own ears, and now I understand. I know as much as you do. You are no better than I am. As for me, I would speak directly to the Almighty. I want to argue my case with God himself. As for you, you smear me with lies. As physicians, you are worthless quacks. If only you could be silent! That’s the wisest thing you could do. Listen to my charge; pay attention to my arguments. “Are you defending God with lies? Do you make your dishonest arguments for his sake? Will you slant your testimony in his favor? Will you argue God’s case for him? What will happen when he finds out what you are doing? Can you fool him as easily as you fool people? No, you will be in trouble with him if you secretly slant your testimony in his favor. Doesn’t his majesty terrify you? Doesn’t your fear of him overwhelm you? Your platitudes are as valuable as ashes. Your defense is as fragile as a clay pot. “Be silent now and leave me alone. Let me speak, and I will face the consequences. Why should I put myself in mortal danger and take my life in my own hands? God might kill me, but I have no other hope. I am going to argue my case with him. But this is what will save me—I am not godless. If I were, I could not stand before him. “Listen closely to what I am about to say. Hear me out. I have prepared my case; I will be proved innocent.

Job 13:1-18 English Standard Version 2016 (ESV)

“Behold, my eye has seen all this, my ear has heard and understood it. What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you. But I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to argue my case with God. As for you, you whitewash with lies; worthless physicians are you all. Oh that you would keep silent, and it would be your wisdom! Hear now my argument and listen to the pleadings of my lips. Will you speak falsely for God and speak deceitfully for him? Will you show partiality toward him? Will you plead the case for God? Will it be well with you when he searches you out? Or can you deceive him, as one deceives a man? He will surely rebuke you if in secret you show partiality. Will not his majesty terrify you, and the dread of him fall upon you? Your maxims are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay. “Let me have silence, and I will speak, and let come on me what may. Why should I take my flesh in my teeth and put my life in my hand? Though he slay me, I will hope in him; yet I will argue my ways to his face. This will be my salvation, that the godless shall not come before him. Keep listening to my words, and let my declaration be in your ears. Behold, I have prepared my case; I know that I shall be in the right.