Job 23

1 Then Job answered and said:

Bvt Iob answered and sayd,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Behold, if I go to the East, he is not there: if to the West, yet I can not perceiue 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 to the North where he worketh, yet I cannot see him: he wil hide himselfe in the South, and I cannot beholde him.

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

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

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

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

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.

Neyther haue I departed from the commandement of his lippes, and I haue esteemed the words of his mouth more then mine appointed foode.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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