Job 23

1 Then Job answered:

Then answered Job, and said,

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

Even now is my complaint bitter: my suffering is heavier than my groans.

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

Oh who would grant that I knew where I might find him! that I might attain to his Judgment throne!

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

I would put in order before him my cause, and my mouth would I fill with arguments.

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

I should know the words which he might answer me, and understand what he might say unto me.

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

Would he with his power contend against me? he would truly not lay such doings to my charge.

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

There would an upright one argue with him; and I should be allowed to escape for ever by my judge.

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

But, lo, I go eastward—and he is not there; and to the west— and I cannot 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.

When he doth great things at the north, I behold him not; he hideth himself in the south—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: were he to probe me, I should come forth as gold.

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

On his steps my foot hath held fast: his way have I kept, and swerved not.

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

From the commandment of his lips have I also not moved away: as a fixed statute for me have I treasured up the sayings of his mouth.

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

But he is unchangeably one, and who can turn him? And what his will desireth, even that he doth.

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

For he will bring to completion what hath been destined for me: and like these hath he many other things with him.

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

Therefore am I terrified at his presence: I will reflect, and be in dread of him.

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

Still God hath made timid my heart, and the Almighty hath terrified me;

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

Because I was not destroyed before this darkness, and because he hath not hidden from my face [this] gloom.