Job now addresses God directly. Job questions why God is oppressing him despite no sin in him. He was created by God’s own hands. Job says that if he has sinned, the suffering will continue (“woe to me”, Job 10:3). On the other hand, even if he is in the right, he can no longer lift his head upright or walk where he feels God would continue to oppress him (Job 10:16). Job again expresses his desire to have death overcome him (Job 10:18-20).

Now Zophar speaks to Job. He starts by calling the words of Job meaningless (Job 11:2-3). He then expresses interest for God to speak to God, not to vindicate Job, but to condemn Job (Job 11: 5-6). Zophar then speaks of the depth of God’s understanding compared to man’s (Job 11: 7-12). He then urges Job to repent of his insistence on innocence, and God will put an end to Job’s suffering (Job 11: 13-20).

Job responds to his friends by mocking their wisdom saying, “No doubt you are the people and wisdom will die with you” (Job 12:2). He then tells them he is not inferior to them in wisdom (Job 12:3). He considers himself a laughingstock to his friends and being held in contempt by them rather than being comforted. Even the robbers are more at ease then he is (Job 12: 4-6). Job then speaks to the obvious signs that God is behind his suffering for wisdom and strength belong to God. He speaks at length of the power and sovereignty of God (Job 12: 7-25).

Again, Job tells his friends that his understanding is not inferior to his friends (Job 13: 1-2). He then addresses God again, but before he does critique his friends for “whitewashing” the situation by misrepresenting both Job and God (Job 13:4-12). He then recognizes to God, that even if God were to kill him, he would place his hope in God, even while arguing his own ways to God’s face (Job 13:15). Job recognizes that the godless will not be able to come before God, but for himself looks forward to proclaiming his innocence before God who would listen to Job (Job 13: 15-19).

God then pleads for two things. One that God would withdraw his hand (end the suffering) so that Job would no longer live in fear of God due to the suffering. Two, for God to speak with Job (Job 13: 20-22). Job the wonders what God accuses him of that the sufferings continue (Job 13: 22-28).