Job 23

1 And Job answers and says:

Then Job replied again,

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

“Today I am again complaining bitterly/strongly [to God]; I [continue] groaning, but he [SYN] [continues to] (punish me/cause me to suffer).

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

I (wish that I knew/want to know) where I could meet/talk with him, so that I could go to the place where he lives.

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

If I could do that, I would tell him why [I know that] I am innocent; I would tell [MTY] to him all my (arguments/evidence [to show that I have not done what is evil]).

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

Then I would find out what he would reply to me [DOU].

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

Would he use his great power to argue with me? No, he would listen to me carefully.

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

I am (an honest/a righteous) man; so I would be able to discuss things with him [fairly], and then he would declare that I am innocent, [and that decision would endure] forever.

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

“But, I have gone to the east, and he is not there; I have gone to the west, but I have not found him there.

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

I have gone north and I have gone south, but I have not seen him anywhere.

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

But he knows how I have conducted my life; and when he has finished testing me, [he] will [see that] I [am] as pure as [SIM] gold [whose impurities have all been burned out].

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

I [SYN] have faithfully walked on the path that he showed me; I have not stopped [obeying] him.

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 always obeyed what he [SYN] commanded; I have treasured the words that he has spoken.

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

“He never changes. There is no one who can [RHQ] stop him [from doing what he desires]. Whatever he wants to do, he does.

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

And he will finish doing for me the things that he has planned for me; [and I am sure that] he has thought about doing many things for me.

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

So I am terrified in his presence; when I think [about what he can do], I am very afraid [DOU].

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

Almighty God has caused me [SYN] to feel terrified [DOU].

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

[It is as though] there is only thick darkness in front of me, but it is God that I am afraid of, not the darkness.”