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,

Still is my complaint bitter; But my wound is deeper than my groaning.

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

O that I knew where I might find him! That I might go before his throne!

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

I would order my 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 should know what he would answer me, And understand what he would say to me.

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

Would he contend with me with his mighty power? No! he would have regard to me.

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

Then would an upright man contend with him, And I should be fully acquitted 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, behold, I go eastward, and he is not there; And westward, but 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.

To the north, where he worketh, but I cannot behold him; He hideth himself on the south, and I cannot see him.

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

But he knoweth the way which is in my heart; When 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 feet have trodden in his steps; His way I have kept, and have not turned aside 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 neglected the precepts of his lips; Above my own law have I esteemed the words 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 of one mind, and who can turn him? And what he desireth, that he doeth.

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

He performeth that which is appointed for me; And many such things are in his mind!

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

Therefore I am in terror on account of him; When I consider, I am afraid of him.

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

For God maketh my heart faint; Yea, the Almighty terrifieth me;

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

Because I was not taken away before darkness came, And he hath not hidden darkness from mine eyes.