Job 23

1 And Job answers and says:

Then Job answered:

2 “Also—today my complaint [is] bitter, My hand has been heavy because of my sighing.

“Even today my complaint is bitter. His hand is heavy despite my groaning.

3 O that I had known—and I find Him, I come to His seat,

If only I knew where to find Him, so that I could go to His seat.

4 I arrange the cause before Him, And fill my mouth [with] arguments.

I would plead my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments.

5 I know the words He answers me, And understand what He says to me.

I would learn how He would answer, and consider what He would say.

6 Does He strive with me in the abundance of power? No! Surely He puts [it] in me.

Would He contend with me in His great power? No, He would certainly take note of me.

7 There the upright reason with Him, And I escape from mine who is judging—forever.

Then an upright man could reason with Him, and I would be delivered forever from my Judge.

8 Behold, I go forward—and He is not, And backward—and I do not perceive Him.

If I go east, He is not there, and if I go west, I cannot find Him.

9 [To] the left in His working—and I do not see, He is covered [on] the right, and I do not behold.

When He is at work in the north, I cannot behold Him; when He turns to the south, I cannot see Him.

10 For He has known the way with me, He has tried me—I go forth as gold.

Yet He knows the way I have taken; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.

11 My foot has laid hold on His step, I have kept His way, and do not turn aside,

My feet have followed in His tracks; I have kept His way without turning aside.

12 The command of His lips, and I do not depart. I have laid up above my allotted portion The sayings of His mouth.

I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread.

13 And He [is] in one [mind], And who turns Him back? And His soul has desired—and He does [it].

But He is unchangeable, and who can oppose Him? He does what He desires.

14 For He completes my portion, And many such things [are] with Him.

For He carries out His decree against me, and He has many such plans.

15 Therefore, I am troubled at His presence, I consider, and am afraid of Him.

Therefore I am terrified in His presence; when I consider this, I fear Him.

16 And God has made my heart soft, And the Mighty has troubled me.

God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me.

17 For I have not been cut off before darkness, And before me He covered thick darkness.”

Yet I am not silenced by the darkness, by the thick darkness that covers my face.