Chapter 13
1“Indeed, my eyes have seen all this; my ears have heard and understood. 2What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you. 3Yet I desire to speak to the Almighty and argue my case before God. 4You, however, smear with lies; you are all worthless physicians. 5If only you would remain silent; for that would be your wisdom! 6Hear now my argument, and listen to the plea of my lips. 7Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf or speak deceitfully for Him? 8Would you show Him partiality or argue in His defense? 9Would it be well when He examined you? Could you deceive Him as you would deceive a man? 10Surely He would rebuke you if you secretly showed partiality. 11Would His majesty not terrify you? Would the dread of Him not fall upon you? 12Your maxims are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay. 13Be silent, and I will speak. Then let come to me what may. 14Why do I put myself at risk and take my life in my own hands? 15Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. I will still defend my ways to His face. 16Moreover, this will be my salvation, for no godless man can appear before Him. 17Listen carefully to my words; let my declaration ring in your ears. 18See now, I have prepared my case; I know that I will be vindicated. 19Can anyone indict me? If so, I will be silent and die. 20Only grant these two things to me, so that I need not hide from You: 21Withdraw Your hand from me, and do not let Your terror frighten me. 22Then call me, and I will answer, or let me speak, and You can reply. 23How many are my iniquities and sins? Reveal to me my transgression and sin. 24Why do You hide Your face and consider me as Your enemy? 25Would You frighten a windblown leaf? Would You chase after dry chaff? 26For You record bitter accusations against me and bequeath to me the iniquities of my youth. 27You put my feet in the stocks and stand watch over all my paths; You set a limit for the soles of my feet. 28So man wastes away like something rotten, like a moth-eaten garment.
Chapter 14
1“Man, who is born of woman, is short of days and full of trouble. 2Like a flower, he comes forth, then withers away; like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure. 3Do You open Your eyes to one like this? Will You bring him into judgment before You? 4Who can bring out clean from unclean? No one! 5Since his days are determined and the number of his months is with You, and since You have set limits that he cannot exceed, 6look away from him and let him rest, so he can enjoy his day as a hired hand. 7For there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its tender shoots will not fail. 8If its roots grow old in the ground and its stump dies in the soil, 9at the scent of water it will bud and put forth twigs like a sapling. 10But a man dies and is laid low; he breathes his last, and where is he? 11As water disappears from the sea and a river becomes parched and dry, 12so a man lies down and does not rise. Until the heavens are no more, he will not be awakened or roused from sleep. 13If only You would hide me in Sheol and conceal me until Your anger has passed! If only You would appoint a time for me and then remember me! 14When a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, until my renewal comes. 15You will call, and I will answer; You will desire the work of Your hands. 16For then You would count my steps, but would not keep track of my sin. 17My transgression would be sealed in a bag, and You would cover over my iniquity. 18But as a mountain erodes and crumbles and a rock is dislodged from its place, 19as water wears away the stones and torrents wash away the soil, so You destroy a man’s hope. 20You forever overpower him, and he passes on; You change his countenance and send him away. 21If his sons receive honor, he does not know it; if they are brought low, he is unaware. 22He feels only the pain of his own body and mourns only for himself.”