Gottes Neue Bibel

The Book of Job

Unlocked Dynamic Bible :: World English Bible Catholic

- Kapitel 13 -

1
“I have seen everything that you have seen, and I have heard and understood all that you have said.
2
What you know, I also know; I do not know less than you.
3
But I would like to speak with God Almighty, not with you; I would like to argue with him and show him that I am innocent.
4
As for you, you tell lies and do not allow people to know unpleasant truth, like someone who covers up the bad surface of a wall with whitewash. You are all like doctors who sell people useless medicine.
5
I wish that you would be silent; that would be wiser than anything you have said to me.
6
Listen to what I will say to you now; listen while I am saying what is true about myself.
7
You are telling lies to help God; you are saying what is false in order to help him!
8
You would really like to be kind to him by defending what he does, would you not? It is as if you were trying to prove in a court that he is innocent!
9
But if he, sitting as the judge, looked closely at you, he would find that what you are doing for him is bad! You have deceived other people, but do not think that you can lie about him in court and say that you are defending him!
10
If you say clever things to persuade God to take your side, he will surely rebuke you.
11
He will certainly bring the full force of his power against you; you will become very afraid of him.
12
What you have said, the things that you think are so wise, are as useless as ashes; what you say to defend how you think is no better than clay that quickly crumbles.
13
So be quiet and allow me to speak; after that, it will not matter what happens to me.
14
I am ready to risk my life; I am even willing to risk that God will execute me for what I say.
15
If he kills me, then I will not have anyone else whom I can confidently expect to help me, but I am going to defend my behavior in his presence anyway.
16
No wicked person would dare to stand in the presence of God, but because I say that I have not done things that are wrong, perhaps, if I can prove that to God, he will declare me innocent.”
17
“God, listen very carefully to what I say; pay attention to me.
18
I am ready to argue that I am innocent, and I know that you also will declare that I am not guilty.
19
I certainly do not think that you or anyone else will say that what I say is false; if you did so, then I would speak no more, and I would die.

Job's desperate prayer

20
I am requesting you to do two things for me; if you do them, I will not try to hide from you.
21
The first thing that I request is that you stop punishing me, and the second thing that I request is that you stop terrifying me.
22
Speak first, and then I will reply; or allow me to speak first, and then you reply.
23
What have I done that is wrong? What sins have I committed? Show me how I have disobeyed you.
24
Why do you refuse to be friendly to me? Why do you act toward me as though I were your enemy?
25
I am as insignificant as a leaf that the wind blows. Why are you trying to make me afraid? Why are you making me suffer? After all, I am as useless as a bit of dry chaff!
26
It seems that you are writing things to accuse me of having sinned, and that you are writing down even the bad things I did when I was young.
27
It is as though you have put my feet in stocks and that you were watching me wherever I walk; it is as though you were following my footprints to see where I have gone.
28
Because of this, my body is falling apart like rotten wood, like a piece of cloth that the larvae of moths are eating.
1
Behold, my eye has seen all this. My ear has heard and understood it.
2
What you know, I know also. I am not inferior to you.
3
Surely I would speak to the Almighty. I desire to reason with God.
4
But you are forgers of lies. You are all physicians of no value.
5
Oh that you would be completely silent! Then you would be wise.
6
Hear now my reasoning. Listen to the pleadings of my lips.
7
Will you speak unrighteously for God, and talk deceitfully for him?
8
Will you show partiality to him? Will you contend for God?
9
Is it good that he should search you out? Or as one deceives a man, will you deceive him?
10
He will surely reprove you if you secretly show partiality.
11
Won’t his majesty make you afraid and his dread fall on you?
12
Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes. Your defenses are defenses of clay.
13
Be silent! Leave me alone, that I may speak. Let come on me what will.
14
Why should I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand?
15
Behold, he will kill me. I have no hope. Nevertheless, I will maintain my ways before him.
16
This also will be my salvation, that a godless man will not come before him.
17
Listen carefully to my speech. Let my declaration be in your ears.
18
See now, I have set my cause in order. I know that I am righteous.
19
Who is he who will contend with me? For then would I hold my peace and give up the spirit.

Job's desperate prayer

20
“Only don’t do two things to me, then I will not hide myself from your face:
21
withdraw your hand far from me, and don’t let your terror make me afraid.
22
Then call, and I will answer, or let me speak, and you answer me.
23
How many are my iniquities and sins? Make me know my disobedience and my sin.
24
Why do you hide your face, and consider me your enemy?
25
Will you harass a driven leaf? Will you pursue the dry stubble?
26
For you write bitter things against me, and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.
27
You also put my feet in the stocks, and mark all my paths. You set a bound to the soles of my feet,
28
though I am decaying like a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten.