< Job 23 >
And Job answered and said,
2 “Even today my complaint is bitter. His hand is heavy despite my groaning.
Even to-day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.
3 If only I knew where to find Him, so that I could go to His seat.
Oh that I knew where I might find him, that I might come to his seat!
4 I would plead my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments.
I would order the cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments;
5 I would learn how He would answer, and consider what He would say.
I would know the words he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.
6 Would He contend with me in His great power? No, He would certainly take note of me.
Would he plead against me with [his] great power? Nay; but he would give heed unto me.
7 Then an upright man could reason with Him, and I would be delivered forever from my Judge.
There would an upright man reason with him; and I should be delivered for ever from my judge.
8 If I go east, He is not there, and if I go west, I cannot find Him.
Lo, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I do not perceive him;
9 When He is at work in the north, I cannot behold Him; when He turns to the south, I cannot see Him.
On the left hand, where he doth work, but I behold [him] not; he hideth himself on the right hand, and I see [him] not.
10 Yet He knows the way I have taken; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
But he knoweth the way that I take; he trieth me, I shall come forth as gold.
11 My feet have followed in His tracks; I have kept His way without turning aside.
My foot hath held to his steps; his way have I kept, and not turned aside.
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 have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have laid up the words of his mouth more than the purpose of my own heart.
13 But He is unchangeable, and who can oppose Him? He does what He desires.
But he is in one [mind], and who can turn him? And what his soul desireth, that will he do.
14 For He carries out His decree against me, and He has many such plans.
For he will perform [what] is appointed for me; and many such things are with him.
15 Therefore I am terrified in His presence; when I consider this, I fear Him.
Therefore am I troubled at his presence; I consider, and I am afraid of him.
16 God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me.
For God hath made my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me;
17 Yet I am not silenced by the darkness, by the thick darkness that covers my face.
Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he hidden the gloom from me.