Job 13 - Prayer Tents

Job Wants to Argue His Case with God

13"Look, I have seen all this with my own eyes and heard it with my own ears, and now I understand.H5869H7200H241H8085H995 2I know as much as you do. You are no better than I am.H1847H3045H5307 3As for me, I would speak directly to the Almighty. I want to argue my case with God himself.H199H1696H7706H2654H3198H410 4As for you, you smear me with lies. As physicians, you are worthless quacks.H199H2950H8267H7495H457 5If only you could be silent! That's the wisest thing you could do.H5414H2790H2790H2451 6Listen to my charge; pay attention to my arguments.H8085H8433H7181H7379H8193 7"Are you defending God with lies? Do you make your dishonest arguments for his sake?H1696H5766H410H1696H7423 8Will you slant your testimony in his favor? Will you argue God's case for him?H5375H6440H7378H410 9What will happen when he finds out what you are doing? Can you fool him as easily as you fool people?H2895H2713H582H2048H2048 10No, you will be in trouble with him if you secretly slant your testimony in his favor.H3198H3198H5643H5375H6440 11Doesn't his majesty terrify you? Doesn't your fear of him overwhelm you?H7613H1204H6343H5307 12Your platitudes are as valuable as ashes. Your defense is as fragile as a clay pot.H2146H4912H665H1354H1354H2563 13"Be silent now and leave me alone. Let me speak, and I will face the consequences.H2790H1696H5674 14Yes, I will take my life in my hands and say what I really think.H5375H1320H8127H7760H5315H3709 15God might kill me, but I have no other hope. I am going to argue my case with him.H2005H6991H3176H3198H1870H6440 16But this is what will save me—I am not godless. If I were, I could not stand before him.H3444H2611H935H6440 17"Listen closely to what I am about to say. Hear me out.H8085H8085H4405H262H241 18I have prepared my case; I will be proved innocent.H6186H4941H3045H6663 19Who can argue with me over this? And if you prove me wrong, I will remain silent and die.H7378H2790H1478

Job Asks How He Has Sinned

20"O God, grant me these two things, and then I will be able to face you.H6213H8147H5641H6440 21Remove your heavy hand from me, and don't terrify me with your awesome presence.H7368H3709H7368H367H1204 22Now summon me, and I will answer! Or let me speak to you, and you reply.H7121H6030H1696H7725 23Tell me, what have I done wrong? Show me my rebellion and my sin.H5771H2403H3045H6588H2403 24Why do you turn away from me? Why do you treat me as your enemy?H5641H6440H2803H341 25Would you terrify a leaf blown by the wind? Would you chase dry straw?H6206H5929H5086H7291H3002H7179 26"You write bitter accusations against me and bring up all the sins of my youth.H3789H4846H3423H5771H5271 27You put my feet in stocks. You examine all my paths. You trace all my footprints.H7760H7272H5465H8104H734H2707H8328H7272 28I waste away like rotting wood, like a moth-eaten coat.H7538H1086H899H6211H398