Job 23

1 Bvt Iob answered and sayd,

Then Job replied again,

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

“Today I am again complaining bitterly/strongly [to God]; I [continue] groaning, but he [SYN] [continues to] (punish me/cause me to suffer).

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

I (wish that I knew/want to know) where I could meet/talk with him, so that I could go to the place where he lives.

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

If I could do that, I would tell him why [I know that] I am innocent; I would tell [MTY] to him all my (arguments/evidence [to show that I have not done what is evil]).

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

Then I would find out what he would reply to me [DOU].

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

Would he use his great power to argue with me? No, he would listen to me carefully.

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

I am (an honest/a righteous) man; so I would be able to discuss things with him [fairly], and then he would declare that I am innocent, [and that decision would endure] forever.

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

“But, I have gone to the east, and he is not there; I have gone to the west, but I have not found him there.

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.

I have gone north and I have gone south, but I have not seen him anywhere.

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

But he knows how I have conducted my life; and when he has finished testing me, [he] will [see that] I [am] as pure as [SIM] gold [whose impurities have all been burned out].

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

I [SYN] have faithfully walked on the path that he showed me; I have not stopped [obeying] him.

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 always obeyed what he [SYN] commanded; I have treasured the words that he has spoken.

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

“He never changes. There is no one who can [RHQ] stop him [from doing what he desires]. Whatever he wants to do, he does.

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

And he will finish doing for me the things that he has planned for me; [and I am sure that] he has thought about doing many things for me.

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

So I am terrified in his presence; when I think [about what he can do], I am very afraid [DOU].

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

Almighty God has caused me [SYN] to feel terrified [DOU].

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

[It is as though] there is only thick darkness in front of me, but it is God that I am afraid of, not the darkness.”