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.

“Even today my complaint is bitter; my hand is heavy because of 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! Oh, that I might come to his place!

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

I would lay my case in order before him and fill my mouth with arguments.

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

I would learn the words with which he would answer me and would understand 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 argue against me in the greatness of his power? No, he would pay attention to me.

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

There the upright person might argue with him. In this way I would be acquitted forever by my judge.

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

See, I go eastward, but he is not there, and westward, but I cannot perceive him.

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.

To the north, where he is at work, but I cannot see him, and to the south, where he hides himself so 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 knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come out like gold.

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

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

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.

I have not gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.

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 of a kind, who can turn him back? What he desires, he does.

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

For he carries out his decree against me; there are many like them.

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

Therefore, I am terrified in his presence; when I think about him, I am afraid of him.

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

For God has made my heart weak; the Almighty has terrified me.

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

I have not been brought to an end by darkness, because of the thick darkness that covers the gloom of my face.