Job 23

1 And Job made answer and said,

And Job answered and said,

2 Even today my outcry is bitter; his hand is hard on my sorrow.

Even to-day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.

3 If only I had knowledge of where he might be seen, so that I might come even to his seat!

Oh that I knew where I might find him, that I might come to his seat!

4 I would put my cause in order before him, and my mouth would be full of arguments.

I would order the cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments;

5 I would see what his answers would be, and have knowledge of what he would say to me.

I would know the words he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.

6 Would he make use of his great power to overcome me? No, but he would give attention to me.

Would he plead against me with [his] great power? Nay; but he would give heed unto me.

7 There an upright man might put his cause before him; and I would be free for ever from my judge.

There would an upright man reason with him; and I should be delivered for ever from my judge.

8 See, I go forward, but he is not there; and back, but I do not see him;

Lo, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I do not perceive him;

9 I am looking for him on the left hand, but there is no sign of him; and turning to the right, I am not able to 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 For he has knowledge of the way I take; after I have been tested I will come out like gold.

But he knoweth the way that I take; he trieth me, I shall come forth as gold.

11 My feet have gone in his steps; I have kept in his way, without turning to one side or to the other.

My foot hath held to his steps; his way have I kept, and not turned aside.

12 I have never gone against the orders of his lips; the words of his mouth have been stored up in my heart.

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 his purpose is fixed and there is no changing it; and he gives effect to the desire of his soul.

But he is in one [mind], and who can turn him? And what his soul desireth, that will he do.

14 For what has been ordered for me by him will be gone through to the end: and his mind is full of such designs.

For he will perform [what] is appointed for me; and many such things are with him.

15 For this cause I am in fear before him, my thoughts of him overcome me.

Therefore am I troubled at his presence; I consider, and I am afraid of him.

16 For God has made my heart feeble, and my mind is troubled before the Ruler of all.

For God hath made my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me;

17 For I am overcome by the dark, and by the black night which is covering my face.

Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he hidden the gloom from me.