Job 13:5–8

²⁸Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

¹⁹Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

³For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.

¹³Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.

¹³Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time.

³Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?

³Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?

²How long will it be ere ye make an end of words? mark, and afterwards we will speak.

²How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words?

²Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.

³Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.

¹SO these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.

²Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.

²Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.

³Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.

¹WHEREFORE, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words.

²Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth.

³My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly.

⁷¶ And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you.

⁶Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.

⁷For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

⁴For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.

⁴My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.

²But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

²Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?

³Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?

⁴For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.

⁵He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail.

²¹Let me not, I pray you, accept any man’s person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man.

²²For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away.

⁷Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?

²They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.

⁵But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man)

⁶God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?

⁷For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?

⁸And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.

²¶ Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment:

³¶ Neither shalt thou countenance a poor man in his cause.

²³These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

²¹Let me not, I pray you, accept any man’s person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man.

¹⁹How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.

¹⁵¶ Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.

⁹Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.