Job 23

1 Bvt Iob answered and sayd,

Then Job answered and said,

2 Though my talke be this day in bitternes, and my plague greater then my groning,

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

3 Would God yet I knew how to finde him, I would enter vnto his place.

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

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

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

5 I would knowe the wordes, that he would answere me, and would vnderstand what he would say vnto me.

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

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

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

7 There the righteous might reason with him, so I shoulde be deliuered for euer from my Iudge.

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

8 Behold, if I go to the East, he is not there: if to the West, yet I can not perceiue him:

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

9 If to the North where he worketh, yet I cannot see him: he wil hide himselfe in the South, and I cannot beholde him.

On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold [him: ] he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see [him: ]

10 But he knoweth my way, and trieth mee, and I shall come forth like the gold.

But he knoweth the way that I take: [when] he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

11 My foote hath followed his steps: his way haue I kept, and haue not declined.

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

12 Neyther haue I departed from the commandement of his lippes, and I haue esteemed the words of his mouth more then mine appointed foode.

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

13 Yet he is in one minde, and who can turne him? yea, he doeth what his minde desireth.

But he [is] in one [mind], and who can turn him? and [what] his soul desireth, even [that] he doeth.

14 For he will performe that, which is decreed of me, and many such things are with him.

For he performeth [the thing that is] appointed for me: and many such [things are] with him.

15 Therefore I am troubled at his presence, and in considering it, I am afraid of him.

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

16 For God hath softened mine heart, and the Almightie hath troubled me.

For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:

17 For I am not cut off in darknesse, but he hath hid the darkenesse from my face.

Because I was not cut off before the darkness, [neither] hath he covered the darkness from my face.