Job 23

1 And Job answers and says:

Job replied,

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

“Just the same, my complaints today remain bitter. In spite of my groaning he is still punishing me.

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

If only I knew where I could find him so I could go to where he sits in judgment.

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

There I would lay out my case before him and present all my arguments in full.

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

I would discover how he would answer me and learn what he has to say to me.

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

Would he fight against me using his mighty power? No, he would pay attention to what I have to say.

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

There a good person could reason with him, and I would be acquitted forever by my judge.

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

If I go to the east, he's not there; if I go the west, I don't 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.

If he's working in the north, I don't perceive him; if he's moving south, I don't see him.

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

Yet he always knows where I'm going. When he has proved me, I will come out shining like gold.

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

I have kept in step with him; I have followed 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 neglected his commands, for I value what he has told me to do more than the food I eat every day.

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

But God is unchangeable—who can turn him from his purposes? He does whatever he wants to do.

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

So he will finish whatever he has planned for me—and he has many plans for me.

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

That's why I'm terrified at meeting him; when I think of him I tremble with fear.

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

God has made me faint-hearted; the Almighty has scared me to death.

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

Yet I'm still here despite the dark—even though I can't see through the utter darkness.