Job Reproves his Friends
1 “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 whitewash truth with lies.
You are all worthless physicians.
5 Oh that you would be altogether silent!
Then you would be wise.
6 Hear now my reasoning.
Listen as I present my defense.
7 Will you speak for God incorrectly
and speak for him falsely?
8 Will you show partiality to him?
Will you argue the case for him?
9 Will it be good if he should examine you?
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 venerable 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 He will kill me.
I have no hope.
Nevertheless, I will maintain my ways before him.
16 This also will be my salvation,
that a godless man will not come before him.
17 Listen carefully to my speech.
Let my declaration be in your ears.
18 See now, I have presented my case.
I know that I am righteous.
19 Who will charge me?
For then would I be silent and die.
20 Only do not do two things for me,
and I will not hide myself from your face.
21 Withdraw Your hand far from me
and do not let your terror frighten me.
22 Then call, and I will answer,
or let me speak, and you answer me.
23 How many are my iniquities and sins?
Make known to me how I am disobedient and what my sin is.
24 Why do you hide your face
and consider me your enemy?
25 Will you harass a driven leaf?
Will you pursue dry stubble?
26 For you write bitter things against me and give me the sins of my youth as my inheritance.
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.”