Job 23

1 And Job answered and said,

Then Job answered and said,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

9 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.

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

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

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

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 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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