Job 13

‘Yes, I have seen what has happened.

I have heard and I understand.

₂I also know the things that you know

and I am as clever as you are.

₃But I want to speak to the Almighty God.

I want God to listen to what I am telling Him.

₄Because you keep on telling lies,

and you are like doctors who can not heal anyone.

₅It would be better if you kept quiet.

That would be the wisest thing that you could do.

₆Please listen to what I say,

and try to understand what I tell you.

₇You should not say things

that are wrong

and think that you are helping God.

Do not tell lies and think

that He wants you to do it.

₈You should not be unfair

and listen to God but not to me.

You choose to listen to God

only because He is God.

₉If God listens to you and

He finds out what you are doing,

you will have problems.

You can not deceive Him

like you deceive people.

₁₀He will punish you, this is sure.

He will punish you if you are not fair

and you think that no one will know.

₁₁You will become afraid

of the glory of God.

You will fear the Almighty God.

₁₂The clever words that you say

do not help anyone.

Your words are as worthless

as ashes and clay.

₁₃You must keep quiet now

so that I can speak.

I will accept anything that happens to me.

₁₄I know that I am doing something dangerous,

and I am putting my life in my own hands.

₁₅Yes, even if God causes me to die,

I will still trust in Him.

I will explain everything in front of Him.

₁₆This is what will help me,

because someone who is guilty

will not be able to stand in front of God.

₁₇You must listen carefully to what I say,

and try to understand what I am telling you.

₁₈Yes, I have prepared

to stand before the Judge.

I know He will say that I am innocent.

₁₉No one can accuse me of doing wrong.

If someone can, I will keep quiet

and know that my life is over.’

₂₀‘O God, there are 2 things

that I want to ask You,

then I will not try to hide from You.

₂₁Please do not punish me and

do not let me become afraid of You.

₂₂Then You can call me

and I will answer You,

or You can let me speak to You,

and You can answer me.

₂₃Tell me how many sins I have done.

Show me what I have done wrong.

₂₄Why do You look away from me,

and why do You think that I am your enemy?

₂₅I am like a leaf that has

fallen from a tree.

I am like dry chaff.

Why do You want to make me afraid?

Why do You chase me?

₂₆Why do you make me suffer so much?

Why do You remember the sins

that I did when I was young?

₂₇It feels like You are putting

my feet into chains and blocks,

and You are looking at each step that I take.

₂₈I am a man who will die

and disappear like food that goes bad,

like clothes that moths have eaten.’