< Job 23 >

1 Then Job answered:
And Job answers and says:
2 “Even today my complaint is bitter. His hand is heavy despite my groaning.
“Also—today my complaint [is] bitter, My hand has been heavy because of my sighing.
3 If only I knew where to find Him, so that I could go to His seat.
O that I had known—and I find Him, I come to His seat,
4 I would plead my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments.
I arrange 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 know the words He answers me, And understand what He says to me.
6 Would He contend with me in His great power? No, He would certainly take note of me.
Does He strive with me in the abundance of power? No! Surely He puts [it] in me.
7 Then an upright man could reason with Him, and I would be delivered forever from my Judge.
There the upright reason with Him, And I escape from mine who is judging—forever.
8 If I go east, He is not there, and if I go west, I cannot find Him.
Behold, I go forward—and He is not, And backward—and 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.
[To] the left in His working—and I do not see, He is covered [on] the right, and I do not behold.
10 Yet He knows the way I have taken; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
For He has known the way with me, He has tried me—I go forth as gold.
11 My feet have followed in His tracks; I have kept His way without turning aside.
My foot has laid hold on His step, I have kept His way, and do not turn 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.
The command of His lips, and I do not depart. I have laid up above my allotted portion The sayings of His mouth.
13 But He is unchangeable, and who can oppose Him? He does what He desires.
And He [is] in one [mind], And who turns Him back? And His soul has desired—and He does [it].
14 For He carries out His decree against me, and He has many such plans.
For He completes my portion, And many such things [are] with Him.
15 Therefore I am terrified in His presence; when I consider this, I fear Him.
Therefore, I am troubled at His presence, I consider, and am afraid of Him.
16 God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me.
And God has made my heart soft, And the Mighty has troubled me.
17 Yet I am not silenced by the darkness, by the thick darkness that covers my face.
For I have not been cut off before darkness, And before me He covered thick darkness.”

< Job 23 >