Job 23

1 Then Job replied again,

Then Job answered and said,

2 “Today I am again complaining bitterly/strongly [to God]; I [continue] groaning, but he [SYN] [continues to] (punish me/cause me to suffer).

“Even today my complaint is bitter; my hand is heavy because of my groaning.

3 I (wish that I knew/want to know) where I could meet/talk with him, so that I could go to the place where he lives.

Oh, that I knew where I might find him! Oh, that I might come to his place!

4 If I could do that, I would tell him why [I know that] I am innocent; I would tell [MTY] to him all my (arguments/evidence [to show that I have not done what is evil]).

I would lay my case in order before him and fill my mouth with arguments.

5 Then I would find out what he would reply to me [DOU].

I would learn the words with which he would answer me and would understand what he would say to me.

6 Would he use his great power to argue with me? No, he would listen to me carefully.

Would he argue against me in the greatness of his power? No, he would pay attention to me.

7 I am (an honest/a righteous) man; so I would be able to discuss things with him [fairly], and then he would declare that I am innocent, [and that decision would endure] forever.

There the upright person might argue with him. In this way I would be acquitted forever by my judge.

8 “But, I have gone to the east, and he is not there; I have gone to the west, but I have not found him there.

See, I go eastward, but he is not there, and westward, but I cannot perceive him.

9 I have gone north and I have gone south, but I have not seen him anywhere.

To the north, where he is at work, but I cannot see him, and to the south, where he hides himself so that I cannot see him.

10 But he knows how I have conducted my life; and when he has finished testing me, [he] will [see that] I [am] as pure as [SIM] gold [whose impurities have all been burned out].

But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come out like gold.

11 I [SYN] have faithfully walked on the path that he showed me; I have not stopped [obeying] him.

My foot has held fast to his steps; I have kept to his way and turned not aside.

12 I have always obeyed what he [SYN] commanded; I have treasured the words that he has spoken.

I have not gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.

13 “He never changes. There is no one who can [RHQ] stop him [from doing what he desires]. Whatever he wants to do, he does.

But he is one of a kind, who can turn him back? What he desires, he does.

14 And he will finish doing for me the things that he has planned for me; [and I am sure that] he has thought about doing many things for me.

For he carries out his decree against me; there are many like them.

15 So I am terrified in his presence; when I think [about what he can do], I am very afraid [DOU].

Therefore, I am terrified in his presence; when I think about him, I am afraid of him.

16 Almighty God has caused me [SYN] to feel terrified [DOU].

For God has made my heart weak; the Almighty has terrified me.

17 [It is as though] there is only thick darkness in front of me, but it is God that I am afraid of, not the darkness.”

I have not been brought to an end by darkness, because of the thick darkness that covers the gloom of my face.