Job 23

1 Then Job answered and said:

And Job answereth and saith: —

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

Also — to-day [is] my complaint bitter, My hand hath been heavy because of my sighing.

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

O that I had known — and I find Him, I come in unto His seat,

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

I arrange before Him the cause, And my mouth fill [with] arguments.

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

I know the words He doth answer me, And understand what He saith to me.

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

In the abundance of power doth He strive with me? No! surely He putteth [it] in me.

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

There the upright doth reason with Him, And I escape for ever from my judge.

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

Lo, forward I go — and He is not, And backward — and I perceive him not.

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.

[To] the left in His working — and I see not, He is covered [on] the right, and I behold not.

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

For He hath known the way with me, He hath tried me — as gold I go forth.

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

On His step hath my foot laid hold, His way I have kept, and turn not aside,

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.

The command of His lips, and I depart not. Above my allotted portion I have laid up The sayings of His mouth.

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

And He [is] in one [mind], And who doth turn Him back? And His soul hath desired — and He doth [it].

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

For He doth complete my portion, And many such things [are] with Him.

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

Therefore, from His presence I am troubled, I consider, and am afraid of Him.

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

And God hath made my heart soft, And the Mighty 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 have not been cut off before darkness, And before me He covered thick darkness.