Job 23

1 Then Job answered and said,

Then responded Job, and said: —

2 “Even today my complaint is bitter; my hand is heavy because of my groaning.

Even to-day, is my complaint rebellion? His hand, is heavier than my groaning.

3 Oh, that I knew where I might find him! Oh, that I might come to his place!

Oh that I knew where I might find him! I would come even unto his dwelling-place;

4 I would lay my case in order before him and fill my mouth with arguments.

I would set out, before him, a plea, and, my mouth, would I fill with arguments;

5 I would learn the words with which he would answer me and would understand what he would say to me.

I would note the words wherewith he would respond to me, and would mark what he would say to me.

6 Would he argue against me in the greatness of his power? No, he would pay attention to me.

Would he, with fulness of might, contend with me? Nay, surely, he, would give heed to me!

7 There the upright person might argue with him. In this way I would be acquitted forever by my judge.

There an upright man, might reason with him, so should I deliver myself completely from my judge.

8 See, I go eastward, but he is not there, and westward, but I cannot perceive him.

Behold! eastward, I go, but he is not there, and, westward, but I perceive him not;

9 To the north, where he is at work, but I cannot see him, and to the south, where he hides himself so that I cannot see him.

On the north, where he worketh, but I get no vision, He hideth himself on the south that I cannot see him.

10 But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come out like gold.

But, he, knoweth the way that I choose, Having tried me, as gold, I shall come forth.

11 My foot has held fast to his steps; I have kept to his way and turned not aside.

Of his steps, my foot taketh hold, His way, have I kept, and not swerved;

12 I have not gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.

The command of his lips, and would not go back, and, in my bosom, have I treasured the words of his lips.

13 But he is one of a kind, who can turn him back? What he desires, he does.

But, he, is one, and who can turn him? What his soul desired, he hath done.

14 For he carries out his decree against me; there are many like them.

Surely he will accomplish what is decreed for me, and, many such things, hath he in store.

15 Therefore, I am terrified in his presence; when I think about him, I am afraid of him.

For this cause, from his presence, am I driven in fear, I diligently consider and am kept back from him in dread:

16 For God has made my heart weak; the Almighty has terrified me.

Yea, GOD, hath made timid my heart, and, the Almighty, hath put me in terror.

17 I have not been brought to an end by darkness, because of the thick darkness that covers the gloom of my face.

Because I was not cut off before the darkness, nor, before my face, did the gloom form a shroud.