Job 23

1 Then Job answered:

Job replied,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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