Job 23

1 And Job answers and says:

Then answered Job, and said,

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

Even now is my complaint bitter: my suffering is heavier than my groans.

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

Oh who would grant that I knew where I might find him! that I might attain to his Judgment throne!

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

I would put in order before him my cause, and my mouth would I fill with arguments.

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

I should know the words which he might answer me, and understand what he might say unto me.

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

Would he with his power contend against me? he would truly not lay such doings to my charge.

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

There would an upright one argue with him; and I should be allowed to escape for ever by my judge.

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

But, lo, I go eastward—and he is not there; and to the west— and 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.

When he doth great things at the north, I behold him not; he hideth himself in the south—and I see him not.

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: were he to probe me, I should come forth as gold.

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

On his steps my foot hath held fast: his way have I kept, and swerved not.

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

From the commandment of his lips have I also not moved away: as a fixed statute for me have I treasured up the sayings of his mouth.

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

But he is unchangeably one, and who can turn him? And what his will desireth, even that he doth.

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

For he will bring to completion what hath been destined for me: and like these hath he many other things with him.

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

Therefore am I terrified at his presence: I will reflect, and be in dread of him.

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

Still God hath made timid my heart, and the Almighty hath terrified me;

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

Because I was not destroyed before this darkness, and because he hath not hidden from my face [this] gloom.