Job 23
1 Bvt Iob answered and sayd,
Then answered Job, and said,
2 Though my talke be this day in bitternes, and my plague greater then my groning,
Even now is my complaint bitter: my suffering is heavier than my groans.
3 Would God yet I knew how to finde him, I would enter vnto his place.
Oh who would grant that I knew where I might find him! that I might attain to his Judgment throne!
4 I would pleade the cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.
I would put in order before him my cause, and my mouth would I fill with arguments.
5 I would knowe the wordes, that he would answere me, and would vnderstand what he would say vnto me.
I should know the words which he might answer me, and understand what he might say unto me.
6 Would he plead against me with his great power? No, but he would put strength in me.
Would he with his power contend against me? he would truly not lay such doings to my charge.
7 There the righteous might reason with him, so I shoulde be deliuered for euer from my Iudge.
There would an upright one argue with him; and I should be allowed to escape for ever by my judge.
8 Behold, if I go to the East, he is not there: if to the West, yet I can not perceiue him:
But, lo, I go eastward—and he is not there; and to the west— and I cannot 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.
When he doth great things at the north, I behold him not; he hideth himself in the south—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: were he to probe me, I should come forth as gold.
11 My foote hath followed his steps: his way haue I kept, and haue not declined.
On his steps my foot hath held fast: his way have I kept, and swerved not.
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.
From the commandment of his lips have I also not moved away: as a fixed statute for me have I treasured up the sayings of his mouth.
13 Yet he is in one minde, and who can turne him? yea, he doeth what his minde desireth.
But he is unchangeably one, and who can turn him? And what his will desireth, even that he doth.
14 For he will performe that, which is decreed of me, and many such things are with him.
For he will bring to completion what hath been destined for me: and like these hath he many other things with him.
15 Therefore I am troubled at his presence, and in considering it, I am afraid of him.
Therefore am I terrified at his presence: I will reflect, and be in dread of him.
16 For God hath softened mine heart, and the Almightie hath troubled me.
Still God hath made timid my heart, and the Almighty hath terrified me;
17 For I am not cut off in darknesse, but he hath hid the darkenesse from my face.
Because I was not destroyed before this darkness, and because he hath not hidden from my face [this] gloom.
