Job 13 - Introduction

TODAY'S ENGLISH VERSION

13 -] Everything you say, I have heard before.

I understand it all. I know as much as you do.
I-'m not your inferior.

3 But my dispute is with God, not you;

I want to argue my case with him.

4 You cover up your ignorance with lies;

you are like doctors who can-'t heal anyone.

5 Say nothing, and someone may think you are wise!
6 Listen to me state my case.
7 Why are you lying?

Do you think your lies will help God?

8 Are you trying to defend God?

Are you going to argue his case in court?

9 If God looks at you closely will he find anything good?

Do you think you can fool God, the way you fool men?

10 Even though your prejudice is hidden, he will reprimand you,
11 and his power will fill you with terror.
12 How stale your proverbs and arguments are!
13 Be quiet and give me a chance to speak,

and let the results be what they will.

14 I am ready to risk my life.
15 I-'ve lost all hope, so what if God kills me?

I am going to state my case to him.

16 It may even be that my boldness will save me,

since no wicked man would dare face God.

17 Now listen to my words of explanation.
18 I am ready to state my case,

because I know I am in the right.

19 God, are you going to come and accuse me?

If you do, I am ready to be silent and die.

20 Let me ask for two things; agree to them,

and I will not try to hide from you:

21 stop punishing me, and don-'t crush me with terror.

22 Speak first, God, and I will answer.

Or let me speak and you answer me.

23 Of how many wrongs and sins am I guilty?

What crimes am I charged with?

24 Why do you avoid me?

Why do you treat me like an enemy?

25 Are you trying to frighten me? I-'m nothing but a leaf;

you are attacking a dry piece of straw.

26 You bring bitter charges against me,

even for what I did when I was young.

27 You bind chains on my feet;

you watch every step and even examine my footprints.

28 As a result, I crumble like rotten wood,

like a moth-eaten coat.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION 13:1-28

244.

What warning does Job give in verse one?

245.

Job could be giving a sarcastic response to Eliphaz in verse three. How so?

246.

Job calls his friends plasterers of lies. Why? (Job 13:4)

247.

Job says in verse five that the best way to show wisdom is not in words. In what then?

248.

Job is going to argue his case. In verse seven who is involved in deceit or lying? Discuss.

249.

Job's friends are asked in verse eight to allow God to do for them what they want God to do for Job. What is it?

250.

Why is Job so sarcastic? What lesson can we learn from this?

251.

In Job's promise of verse ten, what was fulfilled? When?

252.

God seems less concerned than Job (or man). Such a thought has been used by present day humanists. To what purpose? How answered?

253.

What is the play on words in verse eleven?

254.

Job's evaluation of his friend's words could be described in two words. What are they?

255.

Who is Job addressing in Job 13:13-19?

256.

Explain Job 13:14 in your own words.

257.

Job is willing to face God in a defense of his innocence. Was Job right? Discuss.

258.

Job has a certain guarantee of innocence. What was it? Discuss.

259.

Job actually believed that if he were called before God he could set his cause in such a way that he would be acquitted. Was he right? Discuss.

260.

Spare me two things. What are they? This has been discussed before in Job 9:34. Cf. Isaiah 51:9; Jeremiah 2:13.

261.

What were Job's two requests? Why make them? Was this a reasonable request? Discuss.

262.

Job would like to appear in God's law court in one of two positions. What were they? Cf. Job 13:22.

263.

There are three different Hebrew words for sin in Job 13:23. What are they? How do they relate to Job and us?

264.

What point is made in Job 13:25?

265.

The suffering of Job is bitter. In what way? Job imagines another reason for such suffering. What is it? Does God punish for past sins?

266.

Discuss the three images of Job 13:27.

267.

Job's life is rotten and like a pest-eaten vine decaying with no hope of recovery. Are there such pessimists in our world today? Discuss.