Job 23
1 Then answered Job, and said,
Then Job answered and said,
2 Even now is my complaint bitter: my suffering is heavier than my groans.
Even to day [is] my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.
3 Oh who would grant that I knew where I might find him! that I might attain to his Judgment throne!
Oh that I knew where I might find him! [that] I might come [even] to his seat!
4 I would put in order before him my cause, and my mouth would I fill with arguments.
I would order [my] cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.
5 I should know the words which he might answer me, and understand what he might say unto me.
I would know the words [which] he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.
6 Would he with his power contend against me? he would truly not lay such doings to my charge.
Will he plead against me with [his] great power? No; but he would put [strength] in me.
7 There would an upright one argue with him; and I should be allowed to escape for ever by my judge.
There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.
8 But, lo, I go eastward—and he is not there; and to the west— and I cannot perceive him;
Behold, I go forward, but he [is] not [there; ] and backward, but I cannot perceive 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.
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: ]
10 But he knoweth the way that I take: were he to probe me, I should come forth as gold.
But he knoweth the way that I take: [when] he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
11 On his steps my foot hath held fast: his way have I kept, and swerved not.
My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.
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.
Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary [food].
13 But he is unchangeably one, and who can turn him? And what his will desireth, even that he doth.
But he [is] in one [mind], and who can turn him? and [what] his soul desireth, even [that] he doeth.
14 For he will bring to completion what hath been destined for me: and like these hath he many other things with him.
For he performeth [the thing that is] appointed for me: and many such [things are] with him.
15 Therefore am I terrified at his presence: I will reflect, and be in dread of him.
Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.
16 Still God hath made timid my heart, and the Almighty hath terrified me;
For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:
17 Because I was not destroyed before this darkness, and because he hath not hidden from my face [this] gloom.
Because I was not cut off before the darkness, [neither] hath he covered the darkness from my face.
