Job 23

1 Then Job answered, and said:

Bvt Iob answered and sayd,

2 Now also my words are in bitterness, and the hand of my scourge is more grievous than my mourning.

Though my talke be this day in bitternes, and my plague greater then my groning,

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

Would God yet I knew how to finde him, I would enter vnto his place.

4 I would set judgment before him, and would fill my mouth with complaints.

I would pleade the cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.

5 That I might know the words that he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me.

I would knowe the wordes, that he would answere me, and would vnderstand what he would say vnto me.

6 I would not that he should contend with me with much strength, nor overwhelm me with the weight of his greatness.

Would he plead against me with his great power? No, but he would put strength in me.

7 Let him propose equity against me, and let my judgment come to victory.

There the righteous might reason with him, so I shoulde be deliuered for euer from my Iudge.

8 But if I go to the east, he appeareth not; if to the west, I shall not understand him.

Behold, if I go to the East, he is not there: if to the West, yet I can not perceiue him:

9 If to the left hand, what shall I do? I shall not take hold on him: if I turn myself to the right hand, I shall not see him.

If to the North where he worketh, yet I cannot see him: he wil hide himselfe in the South, and I cannot beholde him.

10 But he knoweth my way, and has tried me as gold that passeth through the fire:

But he knoweth my way, and trieth mee, and I shall come forth like the gold.

11 My foot hath followed his steps, I have kept his way, and have not declined from it.

My foote hath followed his steps: his way haue I kept, and haue not declined.

12 I have not departed from the commandments of his lips, and the words of his mouth I have hid in my bosom.

Neyther haue I departed from the commandement of his lippes, and I haue esteemed the words of his mouth more then mine appointed foode.

13 For he is alone, and no man can turn away his thought: and whatsoever is soul hath desired, that hath he done.

Yet he is in one minde, and who can turne him? yea, he doeth what his minde desireth.

14 And when he shall have fulfilled his will in me, many other like things are also at hand with him.

For he will performe that, which is decreed of me, and many such things are with him.

15 And therefore I am troubled at his presence, and when I consider him I am made pensive with fear.

Therefore I am troubled at his presence, and in considering it, I am afraid of him.

16 God hath softened my heart, and the Almighty hath troubled me.

For God hath softened mine heart, and the Almightie hath troubled me.

17 For I have not perished because of the darkness that hangs over me, neither hath the mist covered my face.

For I am not cut off in darknesse, but he hath hid the darkenesse from my face.