Job 23

1 Then Job answered by saying:

Then Job answered and said,

2 Now again my conversation is in bitterness, and the force of my scourging weighs more heavily on me because of my mourning.

Yes, I know that pleading is out of my reach; and his hand has been made heavy upon my groaning.

3 Who will grant me that I might know and find him, and that I may approach even to his throne?

Who would then know that I might find him, and come to an end [of the matter]?

4 I would place judgment before his eye, and my mouth would fill with criticism,

And I would plead my own cause, and he would fill my mouth with arguments.

5 so that I may know the words that he will answer me and understand what he will say to me.

And I would know the remedies which he would speak to me, and I would perceive what he would tell me.

6 I do not want him to contend with me with much strength, nor to overwhelm me with the bulk of his greatness.

Though he should come on me in [his] great strength, then he would not threaten me;

7 Let him show fairness in response to me, and let my judgment reach to victory.

for truth and reproof are from him; and he would bring forth my judgment to an end.

8 If I go to the east, he does not appear; if I go to the west, I will not understand him.

For if I shall go first, and exist no longer, still what do I know [concerning] the latter end?

9 If I turn to the left, what can I do? I will not take hold of him. If I turn myself to the right, I will not see him.

When he wrought on the left hand, then I observed [it] not: his right hand shall encompass me but I shall not see [it].

10 Truly, he knows my way and has tested me like gold that passes through fire.

For he knows already my way; and he has tried me as gold.

11 My feet have been following his footsteps; I have kept to his way and have not strayed from it.

And I will go forth according to his commandments, for I have kept his ways; and I shall not turn aside from his commandments,

12 I have not withdrawn from the commands of his lips, and the words of his mouth I have hidden in my sinews.

neither shall I transgress; but I have hid his words in my bosom.

13 For he is alone, and no one is able to disturb his intention; and whatever his spirit wills, that he accomplishes.

And if too he has thus judged, who is he that has contradicted, for he has both willed [a thing] and done it.

14 And when he fulfills his will in me, many other similar ones will also be present with him.

15 And, for this reason, I have been troubled at his presence, and, when I consider him, I am approached by fear.

Therefore am I troubled at him; and when I was reproved, I thought of him. Therefore let me take good heed before him: I will consider, and be afraid of him.

16 God has weakened my heart, and the Almighty has confused me.

But the Lord has softened my heart, and the Almighty has troubled me.

17 Yet I have not perished because of the threatening darkness, nor has gloom covered my face.

For I knew not that darkness would come upon me, and thick darkness has covered [me] before my face.