Chapter 13

  Lo, my eye hath seen all this, my ear hath heard and understood it.  

-

  What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior to you.  

-

  Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.  

-

  But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.  

-

  O that ye would altogether hold your peace and it would be your wisdom.  

-

  Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.  

-

  Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?  

-

  Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God?  

-

  Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him?  

-

  He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.  

-

  Shall not his excellence make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you?  

-

  Your remembrances are like to ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.  

-

  Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.  

-

  Why do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand?  

-

  Though he shall slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain my own ways before him.  

-

  He also shall be my salvation: for a hypocrite shall not come before him.  

-

  Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.  

-

  Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.  

-

  Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall expire.  

-

  Only do not two things to me: then will I not hide myself from thee.  

-

  Withdraw thy hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid.  

-

  Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me.  

-

  How many are my iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin.  

-

  Why hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thy enemy?  

-

  Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?  

-

  For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth.  

-

  Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly to all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet.  

-

  And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth-eaten.  

-