Job 23

1 Then Job answered and said,

Then Job replied again,

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

“Today I am again complaining bitterly/strongly [to God]; I [continue] groaning, but he [SYN] [continues to] (punish me/cause me to suffer).

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

I (wish that I knew/want to know) where I could meet/talk with him, so that I could go to the place where he lives.

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

If I could do that, I would tell him why [I know that] I am innocent; I would tell [MTY] to him all my (arguments/evidence [to show that I have not done what is evil]).

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

Then I would find out what he would reply to me [DOU].

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

Would he use his great power to argue with me? No, he would listen to me carefully.

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

I am (an honest/a righteous) man; so I would be able to discuss things with him [fairly], and then he would declare that I am innocent, [and that decision would endure] forever.

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

“But, I have gone to the east, and he is not there; I have gone to the west, but I have not found him there.

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: ]

I have gone north and I have gone south, but I have not seen him anywhere.

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

But he knows how I have conducted my life; and when he has finished testing me, [he] will [see that] I [am] as pure as [SIM] gold [whose impurities have all been burned out].

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

I [SYN] have faithfully walked on the path that he showed me; I have not stopped [obeying] him.

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].

I have always obeyed what he [SYN] commanded; I have treasured the words that he has spoken.

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

“He never changes. There is no one who can [RHQ] stop him [from doing what he desires]. Whatever he wants to do, he does.

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

And he will finish doing for me the things that he has planned for me; [and I am sure that] he has thought about doing many things for me.

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

So I am terrified in his presence; when I think [about what he can do], I am very afraid [DOU].

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

Almighty God has caused me [SYN] to feel terrified [DOU].

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

[It is as though] there is only thick darkness in front of me, but it is God that I am afraid of, not the darkness.”