Job 23

1 And Job answers and says:

Then Job answered, and said:

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

Now also my words are in bitterness, and the hand of my scourge is more grievous than my mourning.

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

Who will grant me that I might know and find him, and come even to his throne?

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

I would set judgment before him, and would fill my mouth with complaints.

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

That I might know the words that he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me.

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

I would not that he should contend with me with much strength, nor overwhelm me with the weight of his greatness.

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

Let him propose equity against me, and let my judgment come to victory.

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

But if I go to the east, he appeareth not; if to the west, I shall not understand him.

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

If to the left hand, what shall I do? I shall not take hold on him: if I turn myself to the right hand, I shall not see him.

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

But he knoweth my way, and has tried me as gold that passeth through the fire:

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

My foot hath followed his steps, I have kept his way, and have not declined from it.

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 commandments of his lips, and the words of his mouth I have hid in my bosom.

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

For he is alone, and no man can turn away his thought: and whatsoever is soul hath desired, that hath he done.

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

And when he shall have fulfilled his will in me, many other like things are also at hand with him.

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

And therefore I am troubled at his presence, and when I consider him I am made pensive with fear.

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

God hath softened my heart, and the Almighty hath troubled me.

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

For I have not perished because of the darkness that hangs over me, neither hath the mist covered my face.