Job 23

1 Then answered Job, and said,

Job replied,

2 Even now is my complaint bitter: my suffering is heavier than my groans.

“Just the same, my complaints today remain bitter. In spite of my groaning he is still punishing me.

3 Oh who would grant that I knew where I might find him! that I might attain to his Judgment throne!

If only I knew where I could find him so I could go to where he sits in judgment.

4 I would put in order before him my cause, and my mouth would I fill with arguments.

There I would lay out my case before him and present all my arguments in full.

5 I should know the words which he might answer me, and understand what he might say unto me.

I would discover how he would answer me and learn what he has to say to me.

6 Would he with his power contend against me? he would truly not lay such doings to my charge.

Would he fight against me using his mighty power? No, he would pay attention to what I have to say.

7 There would an upright one argue with him; and I should be allowed to escape for ever by my judge.

There a good person could reason with him, and I would be acquitted forever by my judge.

8 But, lo, I go eastward—and he is not there; and to the west— and I cannot perceive him;

If I go to the east, he's not there; if I go the west, I don't find him.

9 When he doth great things at the north, I behold him not; he hideth himself in the south—and I see him not.

If he's working in the north, I don't perceive him; if he's moving south, I don't see him.

10 But he knoweth the way that I take: were he to probe me, I should come forth as gold.

Yet he always knows where I'm going. When he has proved me, I will come out shining like gold.

11 On his steps my foot hath held fast: his way have I kept, and swerved not.

I have kept in step with him; I have followed his way without turning aside.

12 From the commandment of his lips have I also not moved away: as a fixed statute for me have I treasured up the sayings of his mouth.

I have not neglected his commands, for I value what he has told me to do more than the food I eat every day.

13 But he is unchangeably one, and who can turn him? And what his will desireth, even that he doth.

But God is unchangeable—who can turn him from his purposes? He does whatever he wants to do.

14 For he will bring to completion what hath been destined for me: and like these hath he many other things with him.

So he will finish whatever he has planned for me—and he has many plans for me.

15 Therefore am I terrified at his presence: I will reflect, and be in dread of him.

That's why I'm terrified at meeting him; when I think of him I tremble with fear.

16 Still God hath made timid my heart, and the Almighty hath terrified me;

God has made me faint-hearted; the Almighty has scared me to death.

17 Because I was not destroyed before this darkness, and because he hath not hidden from my face [this] gloom.

Yet I'm still here despite the dark—even though I can't see through the utter darkness.