Job 23

1 Then Job answered and said,

Then Job answered and said,

2 Even to day [is] my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.

Yes, I know that pleading is out of my reach; and his hand has been made heavy upon my groaning.

3 Oh that I knew where I might find him! [that] I might come [even] to his seat!

Who would then know that I might find him, and come to an end [of the matter]?

4 I would order [my] cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.

And I would plead my own cause, and he would fill my mouth with arguments.

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

And I would know the remedies which he would speak to me, and I would perceive what he would tell me.

6 Will he plead against me with [his] great power? No; but he would put [strength] in me.

Though he should come on me in [his] great strength, then he would not threaten me;

7 There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.

for truth and reproof are from him; and he would bring forth my judgement to an end.

8 Behold, I go forward, but he [is] not [there; ] and backward, but I cannot perceive him:

For if I shall go first, and exist no longer, still what do I know [concerning] the latter end?

9 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold [him: ] he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see [him: ]

When he wrought on the left hand, then I observed [it] not: his right hand shall encompass me but I shall not see [it].

10 But he knoweth the way that I take: [when] he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

For he knows already my way; and he has tried me as gold.

11 My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.

And I will go forth according to his commandments, for I have kept his ways; and I shall not turn aside from his commandments,

12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary [food].

neither shall I transgress; but I have hid his words in my bosom.

13 But he [is] in one [mind], and who can turn him? and [what] his soul desireth, even [that] he doeth.

And if too he has thus judged, who is he that has contradicted, for he has both willed [a thing] and done it.

14 For he performeth [the thing that is] appointed for me: and many such [things are] with him.

15 Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.

Therefore am I troubled at him; and when I was reproved, I thought of him. Therefore let me take good heed before him: I will consider, and be afraid of him.

16 For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:

But the Lord has softened my heart, and the Almighty has troubled me.

17 Because I was not cut off before the darkness, [neither] hath he covered the darkness from my face.

For I knew not that darkness would come upon me, and thick darkness has covered [me] before my face.