Job Says His Friends’ Proverbs Are Ashes

1
(A)Behold, my eye has seen all this,
My ear has heard and understood it.
2
(B)What you know I also know;
I am not inferior to you.
3
“But (C)I would speak to (a)the Almighty,
And I desire to (D)argue with God.
4
“But you (E)smear with lies;
You are all (F)worthless physicians.
5
“O that you would (G)be completely silent,
And that it would become your wisdom!
6
“Please hear my argument
And listen to the contentions of my lips.
7
“Will you (H)speak what is unjust for God,
And speak what is deceitful for Him?
8
“Will you (I)show partiality for Him?
Will you contend for God?
9
“Will it be well when He examines you?
Or (J)will you deceive Him as one deceives a man?
10
“He will surely reprove you
If you secretly (K)show partiality.
11
“Will not (L)His (b)majesty terrify you,
And the dread of Him fall on you?
12
“Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes,
Your defenses are defenses of clay.

Job Is Sure He Will Be Vindicated

13
(M)Be silent before me so that I may speak;
Then let come on me what may.
14
“Why should I take my flesh in my teeth
And (N)put my life in my (c)hands?
15
(O)Though He slay me,
I will hope in Him.
Nevertheless I (P)will argue my ways (d)before Him.
16
“This also will be my (Q)salvation,
For (R)a godless man may not come before His presence.
17
“Listen carefully to my speech,
And let my declaration fill your ears.
18
“Behold now, I have (S)prepared my case;
I know that (T)I will be vindicated.
19
(U)Who will contend with me?
For then I would be silent and (V)die.
20
“Only two things do not do to me,
Then I will not hide from Your face:
21
(W)Remove Your (e)hand from me,
And let not the dread of You terrify me.
22
“Then call, and (X)I will answer;
Or let me speak, then reply to me.
23
(Y)How many are my iniquities and sins?
Make known to me my (f)rebellion and my sin.
24
“Why do You (Z)hide Your face
And consider me (AA)Your enemy?
25
“Will You cause a (AB)driven leaf to tremble?
Or will You pursue the dry (AC)chaff?
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“For You write (AD)bitter things against me
And (AE)make me to inherit the iniquities of my youth.
27
“You (AF)put my feet in the stocks
And watch all my paths;
You (g)set a limit for the soles of my feet,
28
While (h)I am decaying like a (AG)rotten thing,
Like a garment that is moth-eaten.

Footnotes:

a. Job 13:3: ['Heb ', Shaddai]
b. Job 13:11: ['Lit ', exaltation]
c. Job 13:14: ['Lit ', palm]
d. Job 13:15: ['Lit ', to His face]
e. Job 13:21: ['Lit ', palm]
f. Job 13:23: ['Or ', transgression]
g. Job 13:27: ['Lit ', carve for]
h. Job 13:28: ['Lit ', he is]

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