Job 23

1 Job replied,

And Job answered and said,

2 “Just the same, my complaints today remain bitter. In spite of my groaning he is still punishing me.

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

3 If only I knew where I could find him so I could go to where he sits in judgment.

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

4 There I would lay out my case before him and present all my arguments in full.

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

5 I would discover how he would answer me and learn what he has to say to me.

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

6 Would he fight against me using his mighty power? No, he would pay attention to what I have to say.

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

7 There a good person could reason with him, and I would be acquitted forever by my judge.

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

8 If I go to the east, he's not there; if I go the west, I don't find him.

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

9 If he's working in the north, I don't perceive him; if he's moving south, I don't see him.

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.

10 Yet he always knows where I'm going. When he has proved me, I will come out shining like gold.

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

11 I have kept in step with him; I have followed his way without turning aside.

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

12 I have not neglected his commands, for I value what he has told me to do more than the food I eat every day.

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.

13 But God is unchangeable—who can turn him from his purposes? He does whatever he wants to do.

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

14 So he will finish whatever he has planned for me—and he has many plans for me.

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

15 That's why I'm terrified at meeting him; when I think of him I tremble with fear.

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

16 God has made me faint-hearted; the Almighty has scared me to death.

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

17 Yet I'm still here despite the dark—even though I can't see through the utter darkness.

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