Job 23

1 Then Job answered and said,

Then Job answered,

2 Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.

“Even today my complaint is rebellious. His hand is heavy in spite of my groaning.

3 Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!

Oh that I knew where I might find him! That I might come even to his seat!

4 I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.

I would set my cause in order before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.

5 I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.

I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would tell me.

6 Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.

Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No, but he would listen to me.

7 There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.

There the upright might reason with him, so I should be delivered forever from my judge.

8 Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:

“If I go east, he is not there. If I go west, I can’t find him.

9 On the left hand, where he does work, but I cannot behold him: he hides himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:

He works to the north, but I can’t see him. He turns south, but I can’t catch a glimpse of him.

10 But he knows the way that I take: when he has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

But he knows the way that I take. When he has tried me, I will come out like gold.

11 My foot has held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.

My foot has held fast to his steps. I have kept his way, and not turned away.

12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

I haven’t gone back from the commandment of his lips. I have treasured up the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

13 But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desires, even that he does.

But he stands alone, and who can oppose him? What his soul desires, even that he does.

14 For he performs the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.

For he performs that which is appointed for me. Many such things are with him.

15 Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.

Therefore I am terrified at his presence. When I consider, I am afraid of him.

16 For God makes my heart soft, and the Almighty troubles me:

For God has made my heart faint. The Almighty has terrified me.

17 Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither has he covered the darkness from my face.

Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither did he cover the thick darkness from my face.