Job Chapter 13

From The Open Bible Project

13:1 "Behold, my eye has seen all this. My ear has heard and understood it.

13:2 What you know, I know also. I am not inferior to you.

13:3 "Surely I would speak to the Almighty. I desire to reason with God.

• (a) For although he knew that God was just, which was revealed in his ordinary working and another in his secret counsel, yet he uttered his affection to God, because he was not able to understand the reason he punished him.

13:4 But you are forgers of lies. You are all physicians of no value.

• (b) You do not well apply your medicine to the disease.

13:5 Oh that you would be completely silent! Then you would be wise.

13:6 Hear now my reasoning. Listen to the pleadings of my lips.

13:7 Will you speak unrighteously for God, and talk deceitfully for him?

• (c) He condemns their zeal, who did not have knowledge, nor regarded they to comfort him, but always granted on God’s justice, as though it was not evidently seen in Job, unless they had undertaken the probation of it.

13:8 Will you show partiality to him? Will you contend for God?

13:9 Is it good that he should search you out? Or as one deceives a man, will you deceive him?

13:10 He will surely reprove you if you secretly show partiality.

13:11 Shall not his majesty make you afraid, And his dread fall on you?

13:12 Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes, Your defenses are defenses of clay.

• (d) Your fame will come to nothing.

13:13 "Be silent, leave me alone, that I may speak. Let come on me what will.

13:14 Why should I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand?

• (e) Is not this a revealed sign of my affliction and that I do not complain without cause, seeing that I am thus tormented as though I should tear my own flesh, and put my life in danger?

13:15 Behold, he will kill me. I have no hope. Nevertheless, I will maintain my ways before him.

13:16 This also shall be my salvation, that a godless man shall not come before him.

• (f) By which he declares that he is not a hypocrite as they charged him.

13:17 Hear diligently my speech. Let my declaration be in your ears.

13:18 See now, I have set my cause in order. I know that I am righteous.

• (g) That is, cleared and not cut off for my sins, as you think.

13:19 Who is he who will contend with me? For then would I hold my peace and give up the spirit.

• (h) To prove that God punishes me for my sins.
• (i) If I do not defend my cause, every man will condemn me.

13:20 "Only don't do two things to me; then I will not hide myself from your face:

13:21 withdraw your hand far from me; and don't let your terror make me afraid.

• (k) He shows what these two things are.

13:22 Then call, and I will answer; or let me speak, and you answer me.

13:23 How many are my iniquities and sins? Make me know my disobedience and my sin.

• (l) His pangs move him to reason with God, not denying that he had sinned: but he desired to understand what his great sins were that he deserved such rigor, in which he sinned by demanding a reason from God why he punished him.

13:24 Why hide you your face, and hold me for your enemy?

13:25 Will you harass a driven leaf? Will you pursue the dry stubble?

13:26 For you write bitter things against me, and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth:

• (m) You punish me now for the sins that I committed in my youth.

13:27 You also put my feet in the stocks, and mark all my paths. You set a bound to the soles of my feet,

• (n) You make me your prisoner, and so press me that I cannot stir hand or foot.

13:28 though I am decaying like a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten.