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.

Even to-day is my complaint bitter; my hand is become heavy because of my groaning.

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

Oh that I knew where I might find Him, that I might come even to His seat!

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

I would order my cause 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 know the words which He would answer me, and understand what He would say unto me.

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? Nay; but He would give heed unto me.

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

There the upright might reason with Him; so should I be delivered for ever from my Judge.

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

Behold, I go forward, but He is not there, and backward, but I cannot perceive Him;

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

On the left hand, when He doth work, but I cannot behold Him, He turneth Himself to the right hand, but I cannot see Him.

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

For He knoweth the way that I take; when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

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

My foot hath held fast to His steps, His way have I kept, and turned not 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 gone back from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured up the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.

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

But He is at one with Himself, and who can turn Him? And what His soul desireth, even that He doeth.

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

For He will perform that which is appointed for me; and many such things are with Him.

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

Therefore am I affrighted at His presence; when I consider, I am afraid of Him.

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

Yea, God hath made my heart faint, and the Almighty hath affrighted me;

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

Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither did He cover the thick darkness from my face.