Job Continues: Still I Will Hope in God
“Behold, my eye has seen all this,
my ear has heard and understood it.
2 aWhat you know, I also know;
I am not inferior to you.
3 aBut I would speak to the Almighty,
and I desire to bargue my case with God.
4 As for you, ayou whitewash with lies;
bworthless physicians are you all.
5 Oh that you would akeep silent,
and it would be your wisdom!
6 Hear now my argument
and listen to the pleadings of my lips.
7 Will you aspeak falsely for God
and speak adeceitfully for him?
8 Will you show partiality toward him?
Will you aplead the case for God?
9 Will it be well with you when he asearches you out?
Or bcan you deceive him, as one deceives a man?
10 He will surely rebuke you
if in secret you show partiality.
11 Will not his amajesty terrify you,
and the dread of him fall upon you?
12 Your maxims are proverbs of aashes;
your defenses are defenses of clay.
13 “Let me have silence, and I will speak,
and let come on me what may.
14 Why should I take my flesh in my teeth
and aput my life in my hand?
15 aThough he slay me, I will bhope in him;
yet I will cargue my ways to his face.
16 This will be my salvation,
that the godless shall not come before him.
17 aKeep listening to my words,
and let my declaration be in your ears.
18 Behold, I have aprepared my case;
I know that I shall be in the right.
19 aWho is there who will contend with me?
For then I would be silent and die.
20 Only grant me two things,
then I will not ahide myself from your face:
21 awithdraw your hand far from me,
and let not bdread of you terrify me.
22 aThen call, and I will answer;
or let me speak, and you reply to me.
23 How many are my iniquities and my sins?
aMake me know my transgression and my sin.
24 Why ado you hide your face
and bcount me as your enemy?
25 Will you frighten aa driven leaf
and pursue dry bchaff?
26 For you awrite bitter things against me
and make me inherit bthe iniquities of my youth.
27 You put my feet in athe stocks
and bwatch all my paths;
you set a limit for the soles of my feet.
28 Man wastes away like aa rotten thing,
like a garment that is bmoth‑eaten.