Job 13:19
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.
American King James Version (AKJV)
Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.
American Standard Version (ASV)
Who is he that will contend with me? For then would I hold my peace and give up the ghost.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
Is any one able to take up the argument against me? If so, I would keep quiet and give up my breath.
Webster's Revision
Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall expire.
World English Bible
Who is he who will contend with me? For then would I hold my peace and give up the spirit.
English Revised Version (ERV)
Who is he that will contend with me? for now shall I hold my peace and give up the ghost.
Clarke's Job 13:19 Bible Commentary
Who is he that will plead with me? - Let my accuser, the plaintiff, come forward; I will defend my cause against him.
I shall give up the ghost - I shall cease to breathe. Defending myself will be as respiration unto me; or, While he is stating his case, I will be so silent as scarcely to appear to breathe.
Barnes's Job 13:19 Bible Commentary
Who is he that will plead with me? - That is, "who is there now that will take up the cause, and enter into an argument against me? I have set my cause before God. I appeal now to all to take up the argument against me, and have no fear if they do as to the result. I am confident of a sucessful issue, and await calmly the divine adjudication."
For now, if I hold my tongue I shall give up the ghost - This translation, in my view, by no means expresses the sense of the original, if indeed it is not exactly the reverse. According to this version, the meaning is, that if he did not go into a vindication of himself he would die. The Hebrew, however is, "for now I will be silent, and die." That is, "I have maintained my cause, I will say no more. If there is anyone who can successfully contend with me, and can prove that my course cannot be vindicated, then I have no more to say. I will be silent, and die. I will submit to my fate without further argument, and without a complaint. I have said all that needs to be said, and nothing would remain but to submit and die."
Wesley's Job 13:19 Bible Commentary
13:19 The ghost - My grief would break my heart, if I should not give it vent.