Job 23

1 respondens autem Iob dixit

Job replied,

2 nunc quoque in amaritudine est sermo meus et manus plagae meae adgravata est super gemitum meum

“Just the same, my complaints today remain bitter. In spite of my groaning he is still punishing me.

3 quis mihi tribuat ut cognoscam et inveniam illum et veniam usque ad solium eius

If only I knew where I could find him so I could go to where he sits in judgment.

4 ponam coram eo iudicium et os meum replebo increpationibus

There I would lay out my case before him and present all my arguments in full.

5 ut sciam verba quae mihi respondeat et intellegam quid loquatur mihi

I would discover how he would answer me and learn what he has to say to me.

6 nolo multa fortitudine contendat mecum nec magnitudinis suae mole me premat

Would he fight against me using his mighty power? No, he would pay attention to what I have to say.

7 proponat aequitatem contra me et perveniat ad victoriam iudicium meum

There a good person could reason with him, and I would be acquitted forever by my judge.

8 si ad orientem iero non apparet si ad occidentem non intellegam eum

If I go to the east, he's not there; if I go the west, I don't find him.

9 si ad sinistram quid agat non adprehendam eum si me vertam ad dextram non videbo illum

If he's working in the north, I don't perceive him; if he's moving south, I don't see him.

10 ipse vero scit viam meam et probavit me quasi aurum quod per ignem transit

Yet he always knows where I'm going. When he has proved me, I will come out shining like gold.

11 vestigia eius secutus est pes meus viam eius custodivi et non declinavi ex ea

I have kept in step with him; I have followed his way without turning aside.

12 a mandatis labiorum eius non recessi et in sinu meo abscondi verba oris eius

I have not neglected his commands, for I value what he has told me to do more than the food I eat every day.

13 ipse enim solus est et nemo avertere potest cogitationem eius et anima eius quodcumque voluerit hoc facit

But God is unchangeable—who can turn him from his purposes? He does whatever he wants to do.

14 cum expleverit in me voluntatem suam et alia multa similia praesto sunt ei

So he will finish whatever he has planned for me—and he has many plans for me.

15 et idcirco a facie eius turbatus sum et considerans eum timore sollicitor

That's why I'm terrified at meeting him; when I think of him I tremble with fear.

16 Deus mollivit cor meum et Omnipotens conturbavit me

God has made me faint-hearted; the Almighty has scared me to death.

17 non enim perii propter inminentes tenebras nec faciem meam operuit caligo

Yet I'm still here despite the dark—even though I can't see through the utter darkness.