Read Scripture ad-free with Bible Gateway Plus—trusted Study Bibles and commentaries beside every verse. Try it FREE for 7 days.
Log In/Sign Up

#
Job 13
New King James Version

### Job Defends Himself

13 “Behold, my eye has seen all this,
My ear has heard and understood it.
2 (A)What you know, I also know;
I am not inferior to you.
3 (B)But I would speak to the Almighty,
And I desire to reason with God.
4 But you forgers of lies,
(C)You are all worthless physicians.
5 Oh, that you would be silent,
And (D)it would be your wisdom!
6 Now hear my reasoning,
And heed the pleadings of my lips.
7 (E)Will you speak [a]wickedly for God,
And talk deceitfully for Him?
8 Will you show partiality for Him?
Will you contend for God?
9 Will it be well when He searches you out?
Or can you mock Him as one mocks a man?
10 He will surely rebuke you
If you secretly show partiality.
11 Will not His [b]excellence make you afraid,
And the dread of Him fall upon you?
12 Your platitudes are proverbs of ashes,
Your defenses are defenses of clay.

13 “Hold[c] your peace with me, and let me speak,
Then let come on me what may!
14 Why (F)do I take my flesh in my teeth,
And put my life in my hands?
15 (G)Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.
(H)Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.
16 He also shall be my salvation,
For a (I)hypocrite could not come before Him.
17 Listen carefully to my speech,
And to my declaration with your ears.
18 See now, I have prepared my case,
I know that I shall be (J)vindicated.
19 (K)Who is he who will contend with me?
If now I hold my tongue, I perish.

### Job’s Despondent Prayer

20 “Only(L) two things do not do to me,
Then I will not hide myself from You:
21 (M)Withdraw Your hand far from me,
And let not the dread of You make me afraid.
22 Then call, and I will (N)answer;
Or let me speak, then You respond to me.
23 How many are my iniquities and sins?
Make me know my transgression and my sin.
24 (O)Why do You hide Your face,
And (P)regard me as Your enemy?
25 (Q)Will You frighten a leaf driven to and fro?
And will You pursue dry stubble?
26 For You write bitter things against me,
And (R)make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.
27 (S)You put my feet in the stocks,
And watch closely all my paths.
You [d]set a limit for the [e]soles of my feet.

28 “Man[f] decays like a rotten thing,
Like a garment that is moth-eaten.

#### Footnotes

1. Job 13:7 unrighteously
2. Job 13:11 Lit. exaltation
3. Job 13:13 Be silent
4. Job 13:27 Lit. inscribe a print
5. Job 13:27 Lit. roots
6. Job 13:28 Lit. He

#### Cross references

1. Job 13:2 : Job 12:3
2. Job 13:3 : Job 23:3; 31:35
3. Job 13:4 : Job 6:21; [Jer. 23:32]
4. Job 13:5 : Job 13:13; 21:5; Prov. 17:28
5. Job 13:7 : Job 27:4; 36:4
6. Job 13:14 : Job 18:4
7. Job 13:15 : Ps. 23:4; [Prov. 14:32]
8. Job 13:15 : Job 27:5
9. Job 13:16 : Job 8:13
10. Job 13:18 : [Rom. 8:34]
11. Job 13:19 : Job 7:21; 10:8; Is. 50:8
12. Job 13:20 : Job 9:34
13. Job 13:21 : Job 9:34; Ps. 39:10
14. Job 13:22 : Job 9:16; 14:15
15. Job 13:24 : [Deut. 32:20]; Ps. 13:1
16. Job 13:24 : Lam. 2:5
17. Job 13:25 : Is. 42:3
18. Job 13:26 : Job 20:11
19. Job 13:27 : Job 33:11

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

#### Bible Gateway Recommends

NKJV, The Bible Study Bible, Comfort Print: A Study Guide for Every Chapter of the Bible
Retail: $49.99
Our Price: $34.99
Save: $15.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NKJV, Chronological Study Bible, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New King James Version
Retail: $49.99
Our Price: $34.99
Save: $15.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NKJV Study Bible, Full-Color, Comfort Print: The Complete Resource for Studying God’s Word
Retail: $59.99
Our Price: $41.99
Save: $18.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NKJV, Woman's Study Bible, Red Letter, Full-Color: Receiving God's Truth for Balance, Hope, and Transformation
Retail: $49.99
Our Price: $34.99
Save: $15.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NKJV, The Everyday Bible, Red Letter, Comfort Print: 365 Daily Readings Through the Whole Bible
Retail: $29.99
Our Price: $20.99
Save: $9.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NKJV, Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, 2nd Edition, Comfort Print: Growing in Knowledge and Understanding of God Through His Word
Retail: $59.99
Our Price: $41.99
Save: $18.00 (30%)
Buy Now
View more titles