Job 13

EasyEnglish Bible

13 I have seen all these things with my own eyes.
I have heard everything that you have said.
    I have understood it.
² I know as much as you do.
    You are no better than I am.
³ But I want to speak to the Almighty God.
    I need to show him that I am right.
⁴ What you say about me is only lies.
    You would be useless as doctors.
⁵ It would be better if you said nothing.
    That would be a wise thing for you to do.
⁶ Listen now to what I have to say.
    Listen carefully to the words that I speak.
⁷ You think that you can tell lies to speak on behalf of God!
    Your lies are not helping God.
⁸ You are trying to win the argument for God.
    But you are not being honest when you do that.
⁹ If God asks you questions,
    would he find that you speak the truth?
Or would you try to deceive him,
    as you deceive other people?
¹⁰ When you speak on God's behalf,
    you may think that your lies are a secret.
But God will still punish you.
¹¹ His great power will frighten you.
    You will be very afraid of him.
¹² Your wise teaching is worth no more than ashes.
    Your arguments are weak and useless.
¹³ So be quiet now and let me speak.
    Then we will see what happens to me.
¹⁴ I am ready for my life to be in danger.
    I must take that risk.
¹⁵ Even if God kills me, I will still trust him.
    I will tell him why I am not guilty.
¹⁶ I am brave enough to stand in front of God.
No wicked person would be able to do that.
    So it shows that I am not guilty.
¹⁷ Listen carefully to my words.
    Hear what I have to say.
¹⁸ I know what I want to say.
    I am ready to explain why I am not guilty.
¹⁹ Nobody can show that I have done wrong things.
    If anyone can do that, I will be quiet.
    I will be ready to die.
²⁰ God, please do two things that will help me.
If you do those things,
    I will no longer hide from you.
²¹ Please stop punishing me.
    And stop causing me to be so afraid of you.
²² Tell me to come and stand in front of you.
    Then I will answer you.
Or allow me to speak first.
    Then you will reply to me.
²³ Tell me how many wrong things I have done.
    Show me what my sins are.
²⁴ Why do you hide yourself from me?
    Why do you think that I am your enemy?
²⁵ I am as weak as a leaf that the wind can blow away.
    But you still want to frighten me.
I am as useless as chaff,
    but you still attack me.
²⁶ You write down things to accuse me.
    You punish me for the sins I did when I was young.
²⁷ You tie my feet with chains.
    You watch me carefully wherever I go.
    You put marks on my feet.
²⁸ So my life is slowly disappearing.
    It is like a coat that moths are eating.