Job 23

1 Then Job answered:

Then Job answered and said,

2 “Even today my complaint is bitter. His hand is heavy despite my groaning.

Yea, I know that pleading is out of my reach; and his hand has been made heavy upon my groaning.

3 If only I knew where to find Him, so that I could go to His seat.

Who would then know that I might find him, and come to an end [of the matter]?

4 I would plead my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments.

And I would plead my own cause, and he would fill my mouth with arguments.

5 I would learn how He would answer, and consider what He would say.

And I would know the remedies which he would speak to me, and I would perceive what he would tell me.

6 Would He contend with me in His great power? No, He would certainly take note of me.

Though he should come on me in [his] great strength, then he would not threaten me;

7 Then an upright man could reason with Him, and I would be delivered forever from my Judge.

for truth and reproof are from him; and he would bring forth my judgment to an end.

8 If I go east, He is not there, and if I go west, I cannot find Him.

For if I shall go first, and exist no longer, still what do I know [concerning] the latter end?

9 When He is at work in the north, I cannot behold Him; when He turns to the south, I cannot see Him.

When he wrought on the left hand, then I observed [it] not: his right hand shall encompass me but I shall not see [it].

10 Yet He knows the way I have taken; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.

For he knows already my way; and he has tried me as gold.

11 My feet have followed in His tracks; I have kept His way without turning aside.

And I will go forth according to his commandments, for I have kept his ways; and I shall not turn aside from his commandments,

12 I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread.

neither shall I transgress; but I have hid his words in my bosom.

13 But He is unchangeable, and who can oppose Him? He does what He desires.

And if too he has thus judged, who is he that has contradicted, for he has both willed [a thing] and done it.

14 For He carries out His decree against me, and He has many such plans.

15 Therefore I am terrified in His presence; when I consider this, I fear Him.

Therefore am I troubled at him; and when I was reproved, I thought of him. Therefore let me take good heed before him: I will consider, and be afraid of him.

16 God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me.

But the Lord has softened my heart, and the Almighty has troubled me.

17 Yet I am not silenced by the darkness, by the thick darkness that covers my face.

For I knew not that darkness would come upon me, and thick darkness has covered [me] before my face.