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 stroke is heavier than 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.

Will he plead against me with [his] great power? No; but he would put [strength] in me.

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

There the righteous might dispute 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, where he doth work, but I cannot behold [him: ] he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see [him: ]

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

But 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 his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.

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

Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed 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] in one [mind], 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 performeth [the thing that 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 troubled 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.

For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth 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] hath he covered the darkness from my face.