Job 23

1 Then Job answered and said,

And Job made answer and said,

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

Even today my outcry is bitter; his hand is hard on my sorrow.

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

If only I had knowledge of where he might be seen, so that I might come even to his seat!

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

I would put my cause in order before him, and my mouth would be full of arguments.

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

I would see what his answers would be, and have knowledge of what he would say to me.

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

Would he make use of his great power to overcome me? No, but he would give attention to me.

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

There an upright man might put his cause before him; and I would be free for ever from my judge.

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

See, I go forward, but he is not there; and back, but I do not see 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:

I am looking for him on the left hand, but there is no sign of him; and turning to the right, I am not able to see him.

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

For he has knowledge of the way I take; after I have been tested I will come out like gold.

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

My feet have gone in his steps; I have kept in his way, without turning to one side or to the other.

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 have never gone against the orders of his lips; the words of his mouth have been stored up in my heart.

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

But his purpose is fixed and there is no changing it; and he gives effect to the desire of his soul.

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

For what has been ordered for me by him will be gone through to the end: and his mind is full of such designs.

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

For this cause I am in fear before him, my thoughts of him overcome me.

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

For God has made my heart feeble, and my mind is troubled before the Ruler of all.

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

For I am overcome by the dark, and by the black night which is covering my face.