Job 13:15
New International Version
Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face.

New Living Translation
God might kill me, but I have no other hope. I am going to argue my case with him.

English Standard Version
Though he slay me, I will hope in him; yet I will argue my ways to his face.

Berean Standard Bible
Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. I will still defend my ways to His face.

King James Bible
Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

New King James Version
Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.

New American Standard Bible
“Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. Nevertheless I will argue my ways before Him.

NASB 1995
“Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. Nevertheless I will argue my ways before Him.

NASB 1977
“Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. Nevertheless I will argue my ways before Him.

Legacy Standard Bible
Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. Nevertheless I will argue my ways before Him.

Amplified Bible
“Even though He kills me; I will hope in Him. Nevertheless, I will argue my ways to His face.

Christian Standard Bible
Even if he kills me, I will hope in him. I will still defend my ways before him.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Even if He kills me, I will hope in Him. I will still defend my ways before Him.

American Standard Version
Behold, he will slay me; I have no hope: Nevertheless I will maintain my ways before him.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
If he will kill me, it is for him alone I look, because my ways are before him

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

Contemporary English Version
God may kill me, but still I will trust him and offer my defense.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Although he should bill me, I will trust in him: but yet I will reprove my ways in his sight.

English Revised Version
Though he slay me, yet will I wait for him: nevertheless I will maintain my ways before him.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
If God would kill me, I would have no hope [left]. Nevertheless, I will defend my behavior to his face.

Good News Translation
I've lost all hope, so what if God kills me? I am going to state my case to him.

International Standard Version
Even though he kills me, I'll continue to hope in him. At least I'll be able to argue my case to his face!

JPS Tanakh 1917
Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him; But I will argue my ways before Him.

Literal Standard Version
Behold, He slays me—I do not wait! Only, I argue my ways to His face.

Majority Standard Bible
Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. I will still defend my ways to His face.

New American Bible
Slay me though he might, I will wait for him; I will defend my conduct before him.

NET Bible
Even if he slays me, I will hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face!

New Revised Standard Version
See, he will kill me; I have no hope; but I will defend my ways to his face.

New Heart English Bible
Look, he will kill me. I have no hope. Nevertheless, I will maintain my ways before him.

Webster's Bible Translation
Though he shall slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain my own ways before him.

World English Bible
Behold, he will kill me. I have no hope. Nevertheless, I will maintain my ways before him.

Young's Literal Translation
Lo, He doth slay me -- I wait not! Only, my ways unto His face I argue.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Job Reproves His Friends
14Why do I put myself at risk and take my life in my own hands? 15Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. I will still defend my ways to His face. 16Moreover, this will be my salvation, for no godless man can appear before Him.…

Cross References
Job 7:6
My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle; they come to an end without hope.

Job 13:3
Yet I desire to speak to the Almighty and argue my case before God.

Job 27:5
I will never say that you are right; I will maintain my integrity until I die.

Jonah 2:1
From inside the fish, Jonah prayed to the LORD his God,

Habakkuk 3:18
yet I will exult in the LORD; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation!


Treasury of Scripture

Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain my own ways before him.

he slay me

Job 13:18
Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.

Job 19:25-28
For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: …

Job 23:10
But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

but I will

Job 10:7
Thou knowest that I am not wicked; and there is none that can deliver out of thine hand.

Job 16:17,21
Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure…

Job 23:4-7
I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments…

maintain.

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Job 13
1. Job reproves his friends for partiality
14. He professes his confidence in God;
19. and entreats to know his own sins, and God's purpose in afflicting him














(15) Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.--This rendering is almost proverbial; but, to say the least, its accuracy is very doubtful, for the better reading does not warrant it, but runs thus: Behold He will slay me. I have no hope; yet will I maintain my ways before Him. It is true we thus lose a very beautiful and familiar resolve; but the expression of living trust is not less vivid. For though there is, as there can be, no gleam of hope for victory in this conflict, yet, notwithstanding, Job will not forego his conviction of integrity; for the voice of conscience is the voice of God, and if he knows himself to be innocent, he would belie and dishonour God as well as himself in renouncing his innocence.

Verse 15. - Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him; rather, yet will I wait for him. The passage is one of the few in this book where there are two readings - לו איחל and לאֹ איחל. Those who prefer the latter commonly render it, "I have no hope;" but it is pointed out by Canon Cook that there are reasons for regarding לֹא as an archaic form for לו, which sometimes takes its place. If this be not allowed the reading לו will have to be preferred, on the double authority of the versions and of the context. Job cannot possibly have said, in one verse, "I have no hope," and in the next, "He (God) shall be my Salvation." But I will maintain mine own ways before him; i.e. "I will maintain that they are right and good ways, not open to the imputations that my 'friends' have cast upon them" (Job 4:7, 8; Job 8:6, 20; Job 11:11, 14, 20).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Though
הֵ֣ן (hên)
Interjection
Strong's 2005: Lo! behold!

He slay me,
יִ֭קְטְלֵנִי (yiq·ṭə·lê·nî)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singular
Strong's 6991: To cut off, put to death

I will hope in Him.
אֲיַחֵ֑ל (’ă·ya·ḥêl)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3176: To wait, to be patient, hope

I will still
אַךְ־ (’aḵ-)
Adverb
Strong's 389: A particle of affirmation, surely

defend
אוֹכִֽיחַ׃ (’ō·w·ḵî·aḥ)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3198: To be right, reciprocal, to argue, to decide, justify, convict

my ways
דְּ֝רָכַ֗י (də·rā·ḵay)
Noun - common plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

His face.
פָּנָ֥יו (pā·nāw)
Noun - common plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6440: The face


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OT Poetry: Job 13:15 Behold he will kill me (Jb)
Job 13:14
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