1 Job Says His Friends’ Proverbs Are Ashes [Job continued:] “Behold, my eye has seen allthis,My ear has heard and understood it.
2 What you know I also know;I am not inferior to you.
3 “But I wish to speak toHeb Shaddai.the Almighty,And I desire to argue with God.
4 But you smear me with lies [you defame my character most untruthfully];You are all worthless physiciansandhave no remedy to offer.
5 Oh, that you would be completely silent,And thatsilencewould be your wisdom!
6 Please hear my argumentAnd listen to the pleadings of my lips.
7 Will you speak what is unjust for God,And speak what is deceitful for Him?
8 Will you show partiality for Him [and be unjust to me so that you may gain favor with Him]?Will you contendandplead for God?
9 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?
10 He will surely reprimand youIf you secretly show partiality.
11 Will not His majesty terrify you,And will not the dread of Him fall upon you?
12 Your memorable sayings are [worthless, merely] proverbs of ashes;Your defenses are defenses of [crumbling] clay.
13 Job Is Sure He Will Be Vindicated “Be silent before me so that I may speak;And let happen to me what may.
14 Why should I take my flesh in my teethAnd put my life in my hands [incurring the wrath of God]?
15 Even though He kills me;I will hope in Him.Nevertheless, I will argue my ways to His face.
16 This also will be my salvation,For a godless man may not come before Him.
17 Listen diligently to my speech,And let my declaration fill your ears.
18 Behold now, I have prepared my case;I know that I will be vindicated.
19 Who will argueandcontend with me?For then I would be silent and die.
20 “Only [O Lord,] do not do two things to me,And then I will not hide myself from Your face:
21 Withdraw Your hand from meandremove this bodily suffering,And let not the dread of You terrify me.
22 Then [Lord,] call, and I will answer;Or let me speak, and then reply to me.
23 How many are my iniquities and sins [that so much sorrow should come to me]?Make me recognizeandunderstand my transgression and my sin.
24 Why do You hide Your face [as if offended]And consider me Your enemy?
25 Will You cause a windblown leaf to tremble?Will You pursue the chaff of the dry stubble?
26 For You write bitter things against me [in Your indictment]And make me inheritandsuffer for the iniquities of my youth.
27 You also put my feet in the stocks [as punishment]And [critically] observe all my paths;You set a circleandlimit around the soles of my feet [which I must not overstep],
28 While I waste away like a rotten thing,Like a garment that is moth-eaten.