Job 23

1 And Job answers and says:

Then responded Job, and said: —

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

Even to-day, is my complaint rebellion? His hand, 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! I would come even unto his dwelling-place;

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

I would set out, before him, a plea, and, my mouth, would I fill with arguments;

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

I would note the words wherewith he would respond to me, and would mark what he would say to me.

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

Would he, with fulness of might, contend with me? Nay, surely, he, would give heed to me!

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

There an upright man, might reason with him, so should I deliver myself completely from my judge.

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

Behold! eastward, I go, but he is not there, and, westward, but I perceive him not;

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 north, where he worketh, but I get no vision, He hideth himself on the south 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 choose, Having tried me, as gold, I shall come forth.

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

Of his steps, my foot taketh hold, His way, have I kept, and not swerved;

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

The command of his lips, and would not go back, and, in my bosom, have I treasured the words of his lips.

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

But, he, is one, and who can turn him? What his soul desired, he hath done.

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

Surely he will accomplish what is decreed for me, and, many such things, hath he in store.

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

For this cause, from his presence, am I driven in fear, I diligently consider and am kept back from him in dread:

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

Yea, GOD, hath made timid my heart, and, the Almighty, hath put me in terror.

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, nor, before my face, did the gloom form a shroud.