13:1 “Indeed, my eyes have seen all this, 2
my ears have heard and understood it.
13:2 What you know, 3 I 4 know also;
I am not inferior 5 to you!
13:3 But I wish to speak 6 to the Almighty, 7
and I desire to argue 8 my case 9 with God.
13:4 But you, however, are inventors of lies; 10
all of you are worthless physicians! 11
13:5 If only you would keep completely silent! 12
For you, that would be wisdom. 13
13:6 “Listen now to my argument, 14
and be attentive to my lips’ contentions. 15
13:7 Will you speak wickedly 16 on God’s behalf? 17
Will you speak deceitfully for him?
13:8 Will you show him partiality? 18
Will you argue the case 19 for God?
13:9 Would it turn out well if he would examine 20 you?
Or as one deceives 21 a man would you deceive him?
13:10 He would certainly rebuke 22 you
if you secretly 23 showed partiality!
13:11 Would not his splendor 24 terrify 25 you
and the fear he inspires 26 fall on you?
13:12 Your maxims 27 are proverbs of ashes; 28
your defenses 29 are defenses of clay. 30
13:13 “Refrain from talking 31 with me so that 32 I may speak;
then let come to me 33 what may. 34
13:14 Why 35 do I put myself in peril, 36
and take my life in my hands?
13:15 Even if he slays me, I will hope in him; 37
I will surely 38 defend 39 my ways to his face!
13:16 Moreover, this will become my deliverance,
for no godless person would come before him. 40
13:17 Listen carefully 41 to my words;
let your ears be attentive to my explanation. 42
13:18 See now, 43 I have prepared 44 my 45 case; 46
I know that I am right. 47
13:19 Who 48 will contend with me?
If anyone can, I will be silent and die. 49
13:20 Only in two things spare me, 50 O God, 51
and then I will not hide from your face:
13:21 Remove 52 your hand 53 far from me
and stop making me afraid with your terror. 54
13:22 Then call, 55 and I will answer,
or I will speak, and you respond to me.
13:23 How many are my 56 iniquities and sins?
Show me my transgression and my sin. 57
13:24 Why do you hide your face 58
and regard me as your enemy?
13:25 Do you wish to torment 59 a windblown 60 leaf
and chase after dry chaff? 61
13:26 For you write down 62 bitter things against me
and cause me to inherit the sins of my youth. 63
13:27 And you put my feet in the stocks 64
and you watch all my movements; 65
you put marks 66 on the soles of my feet.
13:28 So I 67 waste away like something rotten, 68
like a garment eaten by moths.