Job 23

1 Bvt Iob answered and sayd,

And Job answered and said,

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

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

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

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

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

I would order the cause before him, and 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For he will perform [what] is appointed for 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 his presence; I consider, and I am afraid of him.

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

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

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

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