13 “Behold, my eye has seen all this,My ear has heard and understood it.² What you know, I also know;I am not inferior to you.³ But I would speak to the Almighty,And I desire to reason with God.⁴ But you forgers of lies,You are all worthless physicians.⁵ Oh, that you would be silent,And it would be your wisdom!⁶ Now hear my reasoning,And heed the pleadings of my lips.⁷ Will you speak wickedly for God,And talk deceitfully for Him?⁸ Will you show partiality for Him?Will you contend for God?⁹ Will it be well when He searches you out?Or can you mock Him as one mocks a man?¹⁰ He will surely rebuke youIf you secretly show partiality.¹¹ Will not His excellence make you afraid,And the dread of Him fall upon you?¹² Your platitudes are proverbs of ashes,Your defenses are defenses of clay.

¹³ “Hold your peace with me, and let me speak,Then let come on me what may!¹⁴ Why do I take my flesh in my teeth,And put my life in my hands?¹⁵ Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.¹⁶ He also shall be my salvation,For a hypocrite could not come before Him.¹⁷ Listen carefully to my speech,And to my declaration with your ears.¹⁸ See now, I have prepared my case,I know that I shall be vindicated.¹⁹ Who is he who will contend with me?If now I hold my tongue, I perish.

Job’s Despondent Prayer

²⁰ “Only two things do not do to me,Then I will not hide myself from You:²¹ Withdraw Your hand far from me,And let not the dread of You make me afraid.²² Then call, and I will answer;Or let me speak, then You respond to me.²³ How many are my iniquities and sins?Make me know my transgression and my sin.²⁴ Why do You hide Your face,And regard me as Your enemy?²⁵ Will You frighten a leaf driven to and fro?And will You pursue dry stubble?²⁶ For You write bitter things against me,And make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.²⁷ You put my feet in the stocks,And watch closely all my paths.You set a limit^[a] for the soles of my feet.

²⁸ “Man^[b] decays like a rotten thing,Like a garment that is moth-eaten.