Job 23

1 Bvt Iob answered and sayd,

Then Job answered and said,

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

Yea, I know that pleading is out of my reach; and his hand has been made heavy upon my groaning.

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

Who would then know that I might find him, and come to an end [of the matter]?

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

And I would plead my own cause, and he would fill my mouth with arguments.

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

And I would know the remedies which he would speak to me, and I would perceive what he would tell me.

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

Though he should come on me in [his] great strength, then he would not threaten me;

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

for truth and reproof are from him; and he would bring forth my judgment to an end.

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

For if I shall go first, and exist no longer, still what do I know [concerning] the latter end?

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

When he wrought on the left hand, then I observed [it] not: his right hand shall encompass me but I shall not see [it].

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

For he knows already my way; and he has tried me as gold.

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

And I will go forth according to his commandments, for I have kept his ways; and I shall not turn aside from his commandments,

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

neither shall I transgress; but I have hid his words in my bosom.

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

And if too he has thus judged, who is he that has contradicted, for he has both willed [a thing] and done it.

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

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

Therefore am I troubled at him; and when I was reproved, I thought of him. Therefore let me take good heed before him: I will consider, and be afraid of him.

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

But the Lord has softened my heart, and the Almighty has troubled me.

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

For I knew not that darkness would come upon me, and thick darkness has covered [me] before my face.