Job 23

1 And Job answers and says:

And Job made answer and said,

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

Even today my outcry is bitter; his hand is hard on my sorrow.

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

If only I had knowledge of where he might be seen, so that I might come even to his seat!

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

I would put my cause in order before him, and my mouth would be full of arguments.

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

I would see what his answers would be, and have knowledge of what he would say to me.

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

Would he make use of his great power to overcome me? No, but he would give attention to me.

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

There an upright man might put his cause before him; and I would be free for ever from my judge.

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

See, I go forward, but he is not there; and back, but I do not see him;

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

I am looking for him on the left hand, but there is no sign of him; and turning to the right, I am not able to see him.

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

For he has knowledge of the way I take; after I have been tested I will come out like gold.

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

My feet have gone in his steps; I have kept in his way, without turning to one side or to the other.

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 never gone against the orders of his lips; the words of his mouth have been stored up in my heart.

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

But his purpose is fixed and there is no changing it; and he gives effect to the desire of his soul.

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

For what has been ordered for me by him will be gone through to the end: and his mind is full of such designs.

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

For this cause I am in fear before him, my thoughts of him overcome me.

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

For God has made my heart feeble, and my mind is troubled before the Ruler of all.

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

For I am overcome by the dark, and by the black night which is covering my face.