Job 23
1 Then answered Job, and said,
Then responded Job, and said: —
2 Even now is my complaint bitter: my suffering is heavier than my groans.
Even to-day, is my complaint rebellion? His hand, 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! I would come even unto his dwelling-place;
4 I would put in order before him my cause, and my mouth would I fill with arguments.
I would set out, before him, a plea, and, my mouth, would I fill with arguments;
5 I should know the words which he might answer me, and understand what he might say unto me.
I would note the words wherewith he would respond to me, and would mark what he would say to me.
6 Would he with his power contend against me? he would truly not lay such doings to my charge.
Would he, with fulness of might, contend with me? Nay, surely, he, would give heed to me!
7 There would an upright one argue with him; and I should be allowed to escape for ever by my judge.
There an upright man, might reason with him, so should I deliver myself completely from my judge.
8 But, lo, I go eastward—and he is not there; and to the west— and I cannot perceive him;
Behold! eastward, I go, but he is not there, and, westward, but I perceive him not;
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 north, where he worketh, but I get no vision, He hideth himself on the south 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 choose, Having tried me, as gold, I shall come forth.
11 On his steps my foot hath held fast: his way have I kept, and swerved not.
Of his steps, my foot taketh hold, His way, have I kept, and not swerved;
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.
The command of his lips, and would not go back, and, in my bosom, have I treasured the words of his lips.
13 But he is unchangeably one, and who can turn him? And what his will desireth, even that he doth.
But, he, is one, and who can turn him? What his soul desired, he hath done.
14 For he will bring to completion what hath been destined for me: and like these hath he many other things with him.
Surely he will accomplish what is decreed for me, and, many such things, hath he in store.
15 Therefore am I terrified at his presence: I will reflect, and be in dread of him.
For this cause, from his presence, am I driven in fear, I diligently consider and am kept back from him in dread:
16 Still God hath made timid my heart, and the Almighty hath terrified me;
Yea, GOD, hath made timid my heart, and, the Almighty, hath put me in terror.
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, nor, before my face, did the gloom form a shroud.
