| Chapter 13 |
1 |
Lo, my eye hath seen all this, my ear hath heard and understood it. --
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2 |
What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior to you. --
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3 |
Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God. --
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4 |
But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value. --
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5 |
O that ye would altogether hold your peace and it would be your wisdom. --
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6 |
Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips. --
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7 |
Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him? --
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8 |
Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God? --
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9 |
Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him? --
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10 |
He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons. --
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11 |
Shall not his excellence make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you? --
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12 |
Your remembrances are like to ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay. --
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13 |
Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will. --
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14 |
Why do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand? --
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15 |
Though he shall slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain my own ways before him. --
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16 |
He also shall be my salvation: for a hypocrite shall not come before him. --
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17 |
Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears. --
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18 |
Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified. --
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19 |
Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall expire. --
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20 |
Only do not two things to me: then will I not hide myself from thee. --
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21 |
Withdraw thy hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid. --
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22 |
Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me. --
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23 |
How many are my iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin. --
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24 |
Why hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thy enemy? --
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25 |
Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble? --
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26 |
For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth. --
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27 |
Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly to all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet. --
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28 |
And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth-eaten. --
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