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,

“Even today my complaint is bitter; my hand is heavy because of 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! Oh, that I might come to his place!

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

I would lay my case in order 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 learn the words with which he would answer me and would 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 argue against me in the greatness of his power? No, he would pay attention to me.

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

There the upright person might argue with him. In this way I would be acquitted forever 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:

See, I go eastward, but 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 is at work, but I cannot see him, and to the south, where he hides himself so that I cannot see him.

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

But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come out like gold.

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

My foot has held fast to his steps; I have kept to his way and turned not 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.

I have not gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.

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

But he is one of a kind, who can turn him back? What he desires, he does.

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

For he carries out his decree against me; there are many like them.

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

Therefore, I am terrified in his presence; when I think about him, I am afraid of him.

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

For God has made my heart weak; the Almighty has terrified me.

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

I have not been brought to an end by darkness, because of the thick darkness that covers the gloom of my face.