Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?
Parallel translations
- WEB Will you speak unrighteously for God, and talk deceitfully for him?
- BSB Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf or speak deceitfully for Him?
- NKJV Will you speak wickedly for God, And talk deceitfully for Him?
- NASB “Will you speak what is unjust for God, And speak what is deceitful for Him?
- NLT “Are you defending God with lies? Do you make your dishonest arguments for his sake?
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Job warns that his friends are defending God with lies. Speaking falsehood, even on God's behalf, is still wickedness.
Overview
Job asks pointedly whether they will 'speak unrighteously for God' and 'talk deceitfully for him.' Their zeal to vindicate God has led them to distort the truth about Job and about God's ways. The verse is a sober reminder that God is not honored by dishonest arguments made in His name.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Job 36:4For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.
- Job 27:4My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.
- 2 Cor 4:2But 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.
- John 16:2They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
- Job 11:2–4Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?
- Job 17:5He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail.
- Job 4:7Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?
- Job 32:21–22Let me not, I pray you, accept any man’s person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man.
- Rom 3:5–8But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man)
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Job's cry for a mediator who can lay his hand on both God and man, and his confidence that 'my Redeemer lives' and will stand on the earth, reaches forward to Jesus the living Redeemer.
How Job 13:7 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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