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.

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 [even] to his seat!

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

I would order [my] 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 [which] he would answer me, and understand what he would say to 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? No; but he would put [strength] in me.

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

There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I 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.

Behold, I go forward, but he [is] not [there]; and backward, but 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.

On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold [him]: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see [him]:

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: [when] he hath tried 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 his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.

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 esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary [food].

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, even [that] he doeth.

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

For he performeth [the thing that 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: when I consider, I am afraid of him.

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

For God maketh 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 covered the darkness from my face.