Job 23

1 Then Job answered and said,

And Job answers and says:

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

“Also—today my complaint [is] bitter, My hand has been heavy because of my sighing.

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

O that I had known—and I find Him, I come to His seat,

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

I arrange the cause 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 know the words He answers me, And understand what He says to me.

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

Does He strive with me in the abundance of power? No! Surely He puts [it] in me.

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

There the upright reason with Him, And I escape from mine who is judging—forever.

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

Behold, I go forward—and He is not, And backward—and I do not perceive 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:

[To] the left in His working—and I do not see, He is covered [on] the right, and I do not behold.

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

For He has known the way with me, He has tried me—I go forth as gold.

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

My foot has laid hold on His step, I have kept His way, and do not turn aside,

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.

The command of His lips, and I do not depart. I have laid up above my allotted portion The sayings of His mouth.

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

And He [is] in one [mind], And who turns Him back? And His soul has desired—and He does [it].

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

For He completes my portion, And 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 troubled at His presence, I consider, and am afraid of Him.

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

And God has made my heart soft, And the Mighty has troubled me.

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

For I have not been cut off before darkness, And before me He covered thick darkness.”