Job 23

1 Bvt Iob answered and sayd,

Then Job answered by saying:

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

Now again my conversation is in bitterness, and the force of my scourging weighs more heavily on me because of my mourning.

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

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

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

I would place judgment before his eye, and my mouth would fill with criticism,

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

so that I may know the words that he will answer me and understand what he will say to me.

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

I do not want him to contend with me with much strength, nor to overwhelm me with the bulk of his greatness.

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

Let him show fairness in response to me, and let my judgment reach to victory.

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

If I go to the east, he does not appear; if I go to the west, I will not understand him.

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.

If I turn to the left, what can I do? I will not take hold of him. If I turn myself to the right, I will not see him.

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

Truly, he knows my way and has tested me like gold that passes through fire.

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

My feet have been following his footsteps; I have kept to his way and have not strayed from it.

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.

I have not withdrawn from the commands of his lips, and the words of his mouth I have hidden in my sinews.

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

For he is alone, and no one is able to disturb his intention; and whatever his spirit wills, that he accomplishes.

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

And when he fulfills his will in me, many other similar ones will also be present with him.

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

And, for this reason, I have been troubled at his presence, and, when I consider him, I am approached by fear.

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

God has weakened my heart, and the Almighty has confused me.

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

Yet I have not perished because of the threatening darkness, nor has gloom covered my face.