Job 13

Berean Standard Bible

Chapter summary

Job states that he understands what his friends know and wishes to speak directly to the Almighty to argue his case. He dismisses his companions as worthless physicians and urges them to be silent, accusing them of speaking deceitfully and wickedly on God's behalf. Declaring his readiness to face whatever comes, Job resolves to defend his ways to God's face while asserting his innocence and impending vindication. He then directly petitions God to withdraw His hand, remove His terror, and reveal the specific iniquities or sins He holds against him. Finally, Job questions why God hides His face and treats him as an enemy, comparing humanity to a fragile, windblown leaf that wastes away under divine scrutiny.

Summary automatically generated from the Bible text.

Words of Jesus in red

¹“Indeed, my eyes have seen all this; my ears have heard and understood. ²What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you. ³Yet I desire to speak to the Almighty and argue my case before God. ⁴You, however, smear with lies; you are all worthless physicians. ⁵If only you would remain silent; for that would be your wisdom! ⁶Hear now my argument, and listen to the plea of my lips. ⁷Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf or speak deceitfully for Him? ⁸Would you show Him partiality or argue in His defense? ⁹Would it be well when He examined you? Could you deceive Him as you would deceive a man? ¹⁰Surely He would rebuke you if you secretly showed partiality. ¹¹Would His majesty not terrify you? Would the dread of Him not fall upon you? ¹²Your maxims are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay. ¹³Be silent, and I will speak. Then let come to me what may. ¹⁴Why do I put myself at risk and take my life in my own hands? ¹⁵Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. I will still defend my ways to His face. ¹⁶Moreover, this will be my salvation, for no godless man can appear before Him. ¹⁷Listen carefully to my words; let my declaration ring in your ears. ¹⁸See now, I have prepared my case; I know that I will be vindicated. ¹⁹Can anyone indict me? If so, I will be silent and die. ²⁰Only grant these two things to me, so that I need not hide from You: ²¹Withdraw Your hand from me, and do not let Your terror frighten me. ²²Then call me, and I will answer, or let me speak, and You can reply. ²³How many are my iniquities and sins? Reveal to me my transgression and sin. ²⁴Why do You hide Your face and consider me as Your enemy? ²⁵Would You frighten a windblown leaf? Would You chase after dry chaff? ²⁶For You record bitter accusations against me and bequeath to me the iniquities of my youth. ²⁷You put my feet in the stocks and stand watch over all my paths; You set a limit for the soles of my feet. ²⁸So man wastes away like something rotten, like a moth-eaten garment.