13:1
I have seen all this with my own eyes, heard with my own ears and understood.
13:2
Whatever you know, I know too; I am in no way inferior to you.
13:3
But my words are intended for Shaddai; I mean to remonstrate with God.
13:4
As for you, you are only charlatans, all worthless as doctors!
13:5
Will no one teach you to be quiet -- the only wisdom that becomes you!
13:6
Kindly listen to my accusation and give your attention to the way I shall plead.
13:7
Do you mean to defend God by prevarication and by dishonest argument,
13:8
and, taking his side like this, appoint yourselves as his advocates?
13:9
How would you fare, if he were to scrutinise you? Can he be duped as mortals are duped?
13:10
He would inflict a harsh rebuke on you for your covert partiality.
13:11
Does his majesty not affright you? Does his terror not overcome you?
13:12
Your received ideas are maxims of ash, your retorts, retorts of clay.
13:13
Be quiet! Kindly let me do the talking, happen to me what may.
13:14
I am putting my flesh between my teeth, I am taking my life in my hands;
13:15
let him kill me if he will; I have no other hope than to justify my conduct in his eyes.
13:16
And this is what will save me, for the wicked would not dare to appear before him.
13:17
Listen carefully to my words, and pay attention to what I am going to say.
13:18
You see, I shall proceed by form of law, knowing that I am upright.
13:19
Who wants to contest my case? In advance, I agree to be silenced and to die!
13:20
Only grant me two concessions, and then I shall not hide away from your face:
13:21
remove your hand, which lies so heavy on me, no longer make me cower from your terror.
13:22
Then call me forward and I shall answer, or rather, I shall speak and you will answer.
13:23
How many faults and crimes have I committed? Tell me what my misdeed has been, what my sin?
13:24
Why do you hide your face and look on me as your enemy?
13:25
Do you want to intimidate a wind-blown leaf, do you want to pursue a dry straw?
13:26
You who lay bitter allegations against me and tax me with the faults of my youth
13:27
and have put my feet in the stocks; you examine my every step and measure my footprints one by one!
13:28
For his part, he crumbles away like rotten wood, or like a moth-eaten garment,
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