Job 23

1 And Job answers and says:

And Job answereth and saith: —

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

Also — to-day [is] my complaint bitter, My hand hath been heavy because of my sighing.

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

O that I had known — and I find Him, I come in unto His seat,

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

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

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

I know the words He doth answer me, And understand what He saith to me.

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

In the abundance of power doth He strive with me? No! surely He putteth [it] in me.

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

There the upright doth reason with Him, And I escape for ever from my judge.

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

Lo, forward I go — and He is not, And backward — and 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.

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

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

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

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

On His step hath my foot laid hold, His way I have kept, and turn 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.

The command of His lips, and I depart not. Above my allotted portion I have laid 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].

And He [is] in one [mind], And who doth turn Him back? And His soul hath desired — and He doth [it].

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

For He doth complete my portion, And many such things [are] with Him.

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

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

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

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

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

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