Job 13.3
English standard version

¹ 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 argue my case with God.
⁴ As for you, you whitewash with lies;
worthless physicians are you all.
⁵ Oh that you would keep silent,
and it would be your wisdom!
⁶ Hear now my argument
and listen to the pleadings of my lips.
⁷ Will you speak falsely for God
and speak deceitfully for him?
⁸ Will you show partiality toward him?
Will you plead the case for God?
⁹ Will it be well with you when he searches you out?
Or can you deceive him, as one deceives a man?
¹⁰ He will surely rebuke you
if in secret you show partiality.
¹¹ Will not his majesty terrify you,
and the dread of him fall upon you?
¹² Your maxims are proverbs of ashes;
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 put my life in my hand?
¹⁵ Though he slay me, I will hope in him;
yet I will argue my ways to his face.
¹⁶ This will be my salvation,
that the godless shall not come before him.
¹⁷ Keep listening to my words,
and let my declaration be in your ears.
¹⁸ Behold, I have prepared my case;
I know that I shall be in the right.
¹⁹ Who 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 hide myself from your face:
²¹ withdraw your hand far from me,
and let not dread of you terrify me.
²² Then call, and I will answer;
or let me speak, and you reply to me.
²³ How many are my iniquities and my sins?
Make me know my transgression and my sin.
²⁴ Why do you hide your face
and count me as your enemy?
²⁵ Will you frighten a driven leaf
and pursue dry chaff?
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 all my paths;
you set a limit for the soles of my feet.
²⁸ Man wastes away like a rotten thing,
like a garment that is moth-eaten.