Job Prepares His Case 1 UDB "I have seen everything that you have seen, and I have heard and understood all that you have said. BSB BSB: “Indeed, my eyes have seen all this; my ears have heard and understood.
2 UDB What you know, I also know; I do not know less than you. BSB BSB: What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you.
3 UDB But I would like to speak with Almighty God, not with you; I would like to argue with him and show him that I am innocent. BSB BSB: Yet I desire to speak to the Almighty and argue my case before God.
4 UDB 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. BSB BSB: You, however, smear with lies; you are all worthless physicians.
5 UDB I wish that you would be silent; that would be wiser than anything you have said to me. BSB BSB: If only you would remain silent; for that would be your wisdom!
6 UDB Listen to what I will say to you now; listen while I am saying what is true about myself. BSB BSB: Hear now my argument, and listen to the plea of my lips.
7 UDB You are telling lies to help God; you are saying what is false in order to help him! BSB BSB: Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf or speak deceitfully for Him?
8 UDB 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! BSB BSB: Would you show Him partiality or argue in His defense?
9 UDB 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! BSB BSB: Would it be well when He examined you? Could you deceive Him as you would deceive a man?
10 UDB If you say clever things to persuade God to take your side, he will surely rebuke you. BSB BSB: Surely He would rebuke you if you secretly showed partiality.
11 UDB He will certainly bring the full force of his power against you; you will become very afraid of him. BSB BSB: Would His majesty not terrify you? Would the dread of Him not fall upon you?
12 UDB 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. BSB BSB: Your maxims are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay.
13 UDB So be quiet and allow me to speak; after that, it will not matter what happens to me. BSB BSB: Be silent, and I will speak. Then let come to me what may.
14 UDB I am ready to risk my life; I am even willing to risk that God will execute me for what I say. BSB BSB: Why do I put myself at risk and take my life in my own hands?
15 UDB 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. BSB BSB: Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. I will still defend my ways to His face.
16 UDB 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." BSB BSB: Moreover, this will be my salvation, for no godless man can appear before Him.
17 UDB "God, listen very carefully to what I say; pay attention to me. BSB BSB: Listen carefully to my words; let my declaration ring in your ears.
18 UDB I am ready to argue that I am innocent, and I know that you also will declare that I am not guilty. BSB BSB: See now, I have prepared my case; I know that I will be vindicated.
19 UDB 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. BSB BSB: Can anyone indict me? If so, I will be silent and die.
20 UDB I am requesting you to do two things for me; if you do them, I will not try to hide from you. BSB BSB: Only grant these two things to me, so that I need not hide from You:
21 UDB 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. BSB BSB: Withdraw Your hand from me, and do not let Your terror frighten me.
22 UDB Speak first, and then I will reply; or allow me to speak first, and then you reply. BSB BSB: Then call me, and I will answer, or let me speak, and You can reply.
23 UDB What have I done that is wrong? What sins have I committed? Show me how I have disobeyed you. BSB BSB: How many are my iniquities and sins? Reveal to me my transgression and sin.
24 UDB Why do you refuse to be friendly to me? Why do you act toward me as though I were your enemy? BSB BSB: Why do You hide Your face and consider me as Your enemy?
25 UDB 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! BSB BSB: Would You frighten a windblown leaf? Would You chase after dry chaff?
26 UDB 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. BSB BSB: For You record bitter accusations against me and bequeath to me the iniquities of my youth.
27 UDB 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. BSB BSB: You put my feet in the stocks and stand watch over all my paths; You set a limit for the soles of my feet.
28 UDB Because of this, my body is falling apart like rotten wood, like a piece of cloth that the larvae of moths are eating. BSB BSB: So man wastes away like something rotten, like a moth-eaten garment.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.