| Chapter 13 |
1 | Lo, mine eye hath seen all [this], mine ear hath heard and understood it.
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2 | What ye know, I know also: I am not inferior to you.
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3 | But I will speak to the Almighty, and will find pleasure in reasoning with łGod;
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4 | For ye indeed are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.
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5 | Oh that ye would be altogether silent! and it would be your wisdom.
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6 | Hear now my defence, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.
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7 | Will ye speak unrighteously for łGod? and for him speak deceit?
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8 | Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for łGod?
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9 | Will it be well if he should search you out? or as one mocketh at a man, will ye mock at him?
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10 | He will certainly reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.
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11 | Shall not his excellency terrify you? and his dread fall upon you?
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12 | Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes, your bulwarks are bulwarks of mire.
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13 | Hold your peace from me, and I will speak, and let come on me what [will]!
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14 | Wherefore should I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand?
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15 | Behold, if he slay me, yet would I trust in him; but I will defend mine own ways before him.
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16 | This also shall be my salvation, that a profane man shall not come before his face.
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17 | Hear attentively my speech and my declaration with your ears.
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18 | Behold now, I have ordered the cause; I know that I shall be justified.
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19 | Who is he that contendeth with me? For if I were silent now, I should expire.
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20 | Only do not two things unto me; then will I not hide myself from thee.
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21 | Withdraw thy hand far from me; and let not thy terror make me afraid:
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22 | Then call, and I will answer; or I will speak, and answer thou me.
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23 | How many are mine iniquities and sins? Make me to know my transgression and my sin.
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24 | Wherefore dost thou hide thy face, and countest me for thine enemy?
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25 | Wilt thou terrify a driven leaf? and wilt thou pursue 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 | And thou puttest my feet in the stocks, and markest all my paths; thou settest a bound about the soles of my feet; --
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28 | One who, as a rotten thing consumeth, as a garment that the moth eateth.
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