Job 23

1 respondens autem Iob dixit

Then Job answered and said,

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

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

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

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

4 ponam coram eo iudicium et os meum replebo increpationibus

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

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

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

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

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

7 proponat aequitatem contra me et perveniat ad victoriam iudicium meum

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

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

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

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

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]:

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

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

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

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

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

Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary [food].

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

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

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

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

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

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

16 Deus mollivit cor meum et Omnipotens conturbavit me

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

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

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