Job Longs to Plead His Case

Job 13

Job calls his friends worthless physicians who speak falsely on God's behalf, and declares that he will instead reason his case directly before the Lord. He asks God to withdraw his rod and his terror so that he may speak without fear, and asks to be shown plainly what sins he has committed.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonBEHOLD these things mine eye hath seen and mine ear heard:

BrentonBehold, mine eye has seen these things, and mine ear has heard them.

GreekἸδοὺ ταῦτα ἑώρακέ μου ὁ ὀφθαλμὸς, καὶ ἀκήκοέ μου τὸ οὖς.

KJVLo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it.

JPSLo, mine eye hath seen all this, Mine ear hath heard and understood it.

Thomsonfor I know all that you know and am not inferior to you in knowledge.

BrentonAnd I know all that ye too know; and I have not less understanding than you.

GreekΚαὶ οἶδα ὅσα καὶ ὑμεῖς ἐπίστασθε, καὶ οὐκ ἀσυνετώτερός εἰμι ὑμῶν.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonNevertheless I would speak to the Lord; and argue before Him, were it His pleasure.

BrentonNevertheless I will speak to the Lord, and I will reason before him, if he will.

GreekΟὐ μὴν δὲ ἀλλʼ ἐγὼ πρὸς Κύριον λαλήσω, ἐλέγξω δὲ ἐναντίον αὐτοῦ ἐὰν βούληται.

KJVSurely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.

JPSNotwithstanding I would speak to the Almighty, And I desire to reason with God.

ThomsonNow you are all bad physicians and curers of maladies.

BrentonBut ye are all bad physicians, and healers of diseases.

GreekὙμεῖς δὲ ἐστὲ ἰατροὶ ἄδικοι, καὶ ἰαταὶ κακῶν πάντες.

KJVBut ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.

JPSBut ye are plasterers of lies, Ye are all physicians of no value.

ThomsonCould you hold your peace, it would be your wisdom.

BrentonBut would that ye were silent, and it would be wisdom to you in the end.

GreekΕἴη δὲ ὑμῖν κωφεῦσαι, καὶ ἀποβήσεται ὑμῖν σοφία.

KJVO that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.

JPSOh that ye would altogether hold your peace! And it would be your wisdom.

ThomsonHear now the argument of my mouth and the pleading of my lips.

BrentonBut hear ye the reasoning of my mouth, and attend to the judgment of my lips.

GreekἈκούσατε δὲ ἔλεγχον τοῦ στόματός μου, κρίσιν δὲ χειλέων μου προσέχετε.

KJVHear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.

JPSHear now my reasoning, And hearken to the pleadings of my lips.

Thomson—

BrentonDo ye not speak before the Lord, and utter deceit before him?

GreekΠότερον οὐκ ἔναντι Κυρίου λαλεῖτε, ἔναντι δὲ αὐτοῦ φθέγγεσθε δόλον;

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonAnd do you in His presence utter deceit in a solemn manner? Or will you keep back anything? Judge for yourselves.

BrentonOr will ye draw back? nay, do ye yourselves be judges.

GreekἪ ὑποστελεῖσθε; ὑμεῖς δὲ αὐτοὶ κριταὶ γίνεσθε.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonFor will it be well for you, if He mark your steps? For though feigning all these things you apply them for Him:

BrentonFor it were well if he would thoroughly search you: for though doing all things in your power ye should attach yourselves to him,

GreekΚαλὸν γὰρ ἐὰν ἐξιχνιάσῃ ὑμᾶς, εἰ γὰρ τὰ πάντα ποιοῦντες προστεθήσεσθε αὐτῷ,

KJV—

JPSWould it be good that He should search you out? Or as one mocketh a man, will ye mock Him?

ThomsonHe will, notwithstanding this, reprove you. And if you secretly respect persons,

Brentonhe will not reprove you at all the less: but if moreover ye should secretly respect persons,

Greekοὐθὲν ἧττον ἐλέγξει ὑμᾶς· εἰ δὲ καὶ κρυφῇ πρόσωπα θαυμάσεσθε,

KJVHe will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.

JPSHe will surely reprove you, If ye do secretly show favour.

Thomsonwill not His awful majesty confound you; and the terror of Him fall upon you?

Brentonshall not his whirlpool sweep you round, and terror from him fall upon you?

Greekπότερον οὐχ ἡ δῖνα αὐτοῦ στροβήσει ὑμᾶς; ὁ φόβος δὲ παρʼ αὐτοῦ ἐπιπεσεῖται ὑμῖν,

KJVShall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you?

JPSShall not His majesty terrify you, And His dread fall upon you?

ThomsonAnd your boasting be dissipated like ashes; and your bodies be reduced to clay.

BrentonAnd your glorying shall prove in the end to you like ashes, and your body like a body of clay.

Greekἀποβήσεται δὲ ὑμῶν τὸ γαυρίαμα ἶσα σποδῷ, τὸ δὲ σῶμα πήλινον.

KJVYour remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.

JPSYour memorials shall be like unto ashes, Your eminences to eminences of clay.

ThomsonKeep silence that I may speak, and have some respite from wrath.

BrentonBe silent, that I may speak, and cease from mine anger,

GreekΚωφεύσατε ἵνα λαλήσω, καὶ ἀναπαύσωμαι θυμοῦ,

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonTaking my flesh in my teeth I will put my life in my hand.

Brentonwhile I may take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand.

Greekἀναλαβὼν τὰς σάρκας μου τοῖς ὀδοῦσι, ψυχὴν δέ μου θήσω ἐν χειρί.

KJVWherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?

JPSWherefore? I will take my flesh in my teeth, And put my life in my hand.

ThomsonThough the Almighty, as He hath begun, may subdue me: yet I will speak and plead before Him.

BrentonThough the Mighty One should lay hand upon me, forasmuch as he has begun, verily I will speak, and plead before him.

GreekἘάν με χειρώσηται ὁ δυνάστης, ἐπεὶ καὶ ἦρκται, ἦ μὴν λαλήσω καὶ ἐλέγξω ἐναντίον αὐτοῦ·

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonAnd this will contribute to my deliverance: for no deceit shall come before Him.

BrentonAnd this shall turn to me for salvation; for fraud shall have no entrance before him.

GreekΚαὶ τοῦτό μοι ἀποβήσεται εἰς σωτηρίαν, οὐ γὰρ ἐναντίον αὐτοῦ δόλος εἰσελεύσεται.

KJVHe also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.

JPSThis also shall be my salvation, That a hypocrite cannot come before Him.

ThomsonHear, hear my words: for I will proclaim them in your hearing.

BrentonHear, hear ye my words, for I will declare in your hearing.

GreekἈκούσατε ἀκούσατε τὰ ῥήματά μου, ἀναγγελῶ γὰρ ὑμῶν ἀκουόντων.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonBehold I am near my trial. I know that I shall appear just.

BrentonBehold, I am near my judgment: I know that I shall appear evidently just.

GreekἸδοὺ ἐγὼ ἐγγύς εἰμι τοῦ κρίματός μου, οἶδα ἐγὼ ὅτι δίκαιος ἀναφανοῦμαι.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonFor who is there who will plead for me? For now I will be silent and expire.

BrentonFor who is he that shall plead with me, that I should now be silent, and expire?

GreekΤίς γάρ ἐστιν ὁ κριθησόμενός μοι, ὅτι νῦν κωφεύσω καὶ ἐκλείψω;

KJVWho is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.

JPS—

ThomsonNow two things Thou art to grant me: then I will not hide myself from Thy presence—

BrentonBut grant me two things: then I will not hide myself from thy face.

GreekΔυεῖν δέ μοι χρήσῃ, τότε ἀπὸ τοῦ προσώπου σου οὐ κρυβήσομαι.

KJVOnly do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from thee.

JPSOnly do not two things unto me, Then will I not hide myself from Thee:

Thomsonwithdraw Thy hand from me: and let not the dread of Thee overwhelm me with terror.

BrentonWithhold thine hand from me: and let not thy fear terrify me.

GreekΤὴν χεῖρα ἀπʼ ἐμοῦ ἀπέχου, καὶ ὁ φόβος σου μή με καταπλησσέτω.

KJVWithdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid.

JPSWithdraw Thy hand far from me; And let not Thy terror make me afraid.

ThomsonThen call and I will answer Thee: or speak and I will make Thee a reply.

BrentonThen shalt thou call, and I will hearken to thee: or thou shalt speak, and I will give thee an answer.

GreekΕἶτα καλέσεις, ἐγὼ δέ σοι ὑπακούσομαι, ἢ λαλήσεις, ἐγὼ δέ σοι δώσω ἀνταπόκρισιν·

KJVThen call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me.

JPSThen call Thou, and I will answer; Or let me speak, and answer Thou me.

ThomsonHow many are my sins and mine iniquities? Teach me what they are.

BrentonHow many are my sins and my transgressions? teach me what they are.

GreekΠόσαι εἰσὶν αἱ ἁμαρτίαι μου καὶ ἀνομίαι μου; δίδαξόν με τίνες εἰσί.

KJVHow many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin.

JPSHow many are mine iniquities and sins? Make me to know my transgression and my sin.

ThomsonWhy dost Thou hide Thyself from me and hast accounted me Thine adversary?

BrentonWherefore hidest thou thyself from me, and deemest me thine enemy?

GreekΔιατί ἀπʼ ἐμοῦ κρύπτῃ, ἥγησαι δέ με ὑπεναντίον σοι;

KJVWherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy?

JPSWherefore hidest Thou Thy face, And holdest me for Thine enemy?

ThomsonCanst Thou be afraid of one who is like a leaf moved with a breath of wind? Or as against dried grass carried away with a blast, dost Thou set thyself against me?

BrentonWilt thou be startled at me, as at a leaf shaken by the wind? or wilt thou set thyself against me as against grass borne upon the breeze?

GreekἪ ὡς φῦλλον κινούμενον ὑπὸ ἀνέμου εὐλαβηθήσῃ, ἢ ὡς χόρτῳ φερομένῳ ὑπὸ πνεύματος ἀντίκεισαί μοι;

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonFor thou hast written evil things against me; and laid to my charge the inadvertencies of youth;

BrentonFor thou hast written evil things against me, and thou hast compassed me with the sins of my youth.

GreekὍτι κατέγραψας κατʼ ἐμοῦ κακὰ, περιέθηκας δέ μοι νεότητος ἁμαρτίας.

KJVFor thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth.

JPSThat Thou shouldest write bitter things against me, And make me to inherit the iniquities of my youth.

Thomsonand put my feet in a clog and watched all my doings; and hast tracked the soles of my feet.

BrentonAnd thou hast placed my foot in the stocks; and thou hast watched all my works, and hast penetrated to my heels.

GreekἜθου δέ μου τὸν πόδα ἐν κωλύματι, ἐφύλαξας δέ μου πάντα τὰ ἔργα, εἰς δὲ ῥίζας τῶν ποδῶν μου ἀφίκου.

KJVThou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet.

JPS—

Thomson—

BrentonI am as that which waxes old like a bottle, or like a moth-eaten garment.

GreekὋ παλαιοῦται ἶσα ἀσκῷ, ἢ ὥσπερ ἱμάτιον σητόβρωτον.

KJVAnd he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth eaten.

JPSThough I am like a wine-skin that consumeth, Like a garment that is moth-eaten.