Job 23

1 Then Job answered and said:

Then Job answered by saying:

2 Even to-day is my complaint bitter; my hand is become heavy because of my groaning.

Now again my conversation is in bitterness, and the force of my scourging weighs more heavily on me because of my mourning.

3 Oh that I knew where I might find Him, that I might come even to His seat!

Who will grant me that I might know and find him, and that I may approach even to his throne?

4 I would order my cause before Him, and fill my mouth with arguments.

I would place judgment before his eye, and my mouth would fill with criticism,

5 I would know the words which He would answer me, and understand what He would say unto me.

so that I may know the words that he will answer me and understand what he will say to me.

6 Would He contend with me in His great power? Nay; but He would give heed unto me.

I do not want him to contend with me with much strength, nor to overwhelm me with the bulk of his greatness.

7 There the upright might reason with Him; so should I be delivered for ever from my Judge.

Let him show fairness in response to me, and let my judgment reach to victory.

8 Behold, I go forward, but He is not there, and backward, but I cannot perceive Him;

If I go to the east, he does not appear; if I go to the west, I will not understand him.

9 On the left hand, when He doth work, but I cannot behold Him, He turneth Himself to the right hand, but I cannot see Him.

If I turn to the left, what can I do? I will not take hold of him. If I turn myself to the right, I will not see him.

10 For He knoweth the way that I take; when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

Truly, he knows my way and has tested me like gold that passes through fire.

11 My foot hath held fast to His steps, His way have I kept, and turned not aside.

My feet have been following his footsteps; I have kept to his way and have not strayed from it.

12 I have not gone back from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured up the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.

I have not withdrawn from the commands of his lips, and the words of his mouth I have hidden in my sinews.

13 But He is at one with Himself, and who can turn Him? And what His soul desireth, even that He doeth.

For he is alone, and no one is able to disturb his intention; and whatever his spirit wills, that he accomplishes.

14 For He will perform that which is appointed for me; and many such things are with Him.

And when he fulfills his will in me, many other similar ones will also be present with him.

15 Therefore am I affrighted at His presence; when I consider, I am afraid of Him.

And, for this reason, I have been troubled at his presence, and, when I consider him, I am approached by fear.

16 Yea, God hath made my heart faint, and the Almighty hath affrighted me;

God has weakened my heart, and the Almighty has confused me.

17 Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither did He cover the thick darkness from my face.

Yet I have not perished because of the threatening darkness, nor has gloom covered my face.