Job 23

1 And Job answered and said,

Then responded Job, and said: —

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

Even to-day, is my complaint rebellion? His hand, is heavier than my groaning.

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

Oh that I knew where I might find him! I would come even unto his dwelling-place;

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

I would set out, before him, a plea, and, my mouth, would I fill with arguments;

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

I would note the words wherewith he would respond to me, and would mark what he would say to me.

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

Would he, with fulness of might, contend with me? Nay, surely, he, would give heed to me!

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

There an upright man, might reason with him, so should I deliver myself completely from my judge.

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

Behold! eastward, I go, but he is not there, and, westward, but I perceive him not;

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.

On the north, where he worketh, but I get no vision, He hideth himself on the south that I cannot see him.

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

But, he, knoweth the way that I choose, Having tried me, as gold, I shall come forth.

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

Of his steps, my foot taketh hold, His way, have I kept, and not swerved;

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.

The command of his lips, and would not go back, and, in my bosom, have I treasured the words of his lips.

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

But, he, is one, and who can turn him? What his soul desired, he hath done.

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

Surely he will accomplish what is decreed for me, and, many such things, hath he in store.

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

For this cause, from his presence, am I driven in fear, I diligently consider and am kept back from him in dread:

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

Yea, GOD, hath made timid my heart, and, the Almighty, hath put me in terror.

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

Because I was not cut off before the darkness, nor, before my face, did the gloom form a shroud.