Job 23

1 Bvt Iob answered and sayd,

And Job answers and says:

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

“Also—today my complaint [is] bitter, My hand has been heavy because of my sighing.

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

O that I had known—and I find Him, I come to His seat,

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

I arrange 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 know the words He answers me, And understand what He says to me.

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

Does He strive with me in the abundance of power? No! Surely He puts [it] in me.

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

There the upright reason with Him, And I escape from mine who is judging—forever.

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

Behold, I go forward—and He is not, And backward—and 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.

[To] the left in His working—and I do not see, He is covered [on] the right, and I do not behold.

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

For He has known the way with me, He has tried me—I go forth as gold.

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

My foot has laid hold on His step, I have kept His way, and do not turn 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.

The command of His lips, and I do not depart. I have laid up above my allotted portion The sayings of His mouth.

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

And He [is] in one [mind], And who turns Him back? And His soul has desired—and He does [it].

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

For He completes my portion, 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, I am troubled at His presence, I consider, and am afraid of Him.

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

And God has made my heart soft, And the Mighty has troubled me.

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

For I have not been cut off before darkness, And before me He covered thick darkness.”