Job 23

1 Then Job answered and said,

And Job answereth and saith: —

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

Also — to-day [is] my complaint bitter, My hand hath 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 in unto His seat,

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

I arrange before Him the cause, And my mouth fill [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 doth answer me, And understand what He saith to me.

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

In the abundance of power doth He strive with me? No! surely He putteth [it] in me.

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

There the upright doth reason with Him, And I escape for ever from my judge.

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

Lo, forward I go — and He is not, And backward — and I perceive him not.

9 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: ]

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

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

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

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

On His step hath my foot laid hold, His way I have kept, and turn not 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 depart not. Above my allotted portion I have laid up The sayings of His mouth.

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

And He [is] in one [mind], And who doth turn Him back? And His soul hath desired — and He doth [it].

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

For He doth complete 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, from His presence I am troubled, I consider, and am afraid of Him.

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

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

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

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