Job 23

1 Then Job answered, and said:

Then Job answered and said,

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

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

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

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

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

I would order my 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 know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.

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

Will 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 dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.

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

Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive 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.

On the left hand, where he does work, but I cannot behold him: he hides himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:

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

But he knows the way that I take: when he has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

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

My foot has held his steps, his way have I kept, and 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.

Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

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

But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desires, even that he does.

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

For he performs the thing that is appointed for 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 am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.

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

For God makes my heart soft, and the Almighty troubles me:

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

Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither has he covered the darkness from my face.