Job 23

1 Then Job answered by saying:

Then Job answered and said:

2 Now again my conversation is in bitterness, and the force of my scourging weighs more heavily on me because of my mourning.

Still is my complaint bitter; But my wound is deeper than my groaning.

3 Who will grant me that I might know and find him, and that I may approach even to his throne?

O that I knew where I might find him! That I might go before his throne!

4 I would place judgment before his eye, and my mouth would fill with criticism,

I would order my cause before him, And fill my mouth with arguments;

5 so that I may know the words that he will answer me and understand what he will say to me.

I should know what he would answer me, And understand what he would say to me.

6 I do not want him to contend with me with much strength, nor to overwhelm me with the bulk of his greatness.

Would he contend with me with his mighty power? No! he would have regard to me.

7 Let him show fairness in response to me, and let my judgment reach to victory.

Then would an upright man contend with him, And I should be fully acquitted by my judge.

8 If I go to the east, he does not appear; if I go to the west, I will not understand him.

But, behold, I go eastward, and he is not there; And westward, but I cannot perceive him;

9 If I turn to the left, what can I do? I will not take hold of him. If I turn myself to the right, I will not see him.

To the north, where he worketh, but I cannot behold him; He hideth himself on the south, and I cannot see him.

10 Truly, he knows my way and has tested me like gold that passes through fire.

But he knoweth the way which is in my heart; When he trieth me, I shall come forth as gold.

11 My feet have been following his footsteps; I have kept to his way and have not strayed from it.

My feet have trodden in his steps; His way I have kept, and have not turned aside from it.

12 I have not withdrawn from the commands of his lips, and the words of his mouth I have hidden in my sinews.

I have not neglected the precepts of his lips; Above my own law have I esteemed the words of his mouth.

13 For he is alone, and no one is able to disturb his intention; and whatever his spirit wills, that he accomplishes.

But he is of one mind, and who can turn him? And what he desireth, that he doeth.

14 And when he fulfills his will in me, many other similar ones will also be present with him.

He performeth that which is appointed for me; And many such things are in his mind!

15 And, for this reason, I have been troubled at his presence, and, when I consider him, I am approached by fear.

Therefore I am in terror on account of him; When I consider, I am afraid of him.

16 God has weakened my heart, and the Almighty has confused me.

For God maketh my heart faint; Yea, the Almighty terrifieth me;

17 Yet I have not perished because of the threatening darkness, nor has gloom covered my face.

Because I was not taken away before darkness came, And he hath not hidden darkness from mine eyes.