Job 23

1 Then Job answered and said:

Then Job answered:

2 Still is my complaint bitter; But my wound is deeper than my groaning.

“Even today my complaint is bitter. His hand is heavy despite my groaning.

3 O that I knew where I might find him! That I might go before his throne!

If only I knew where to find Him, so that I could go to His seat.

4 I would order my cause before him, And fill my mouth with arguments;

I would plead my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments.

5 I should know what he would answer me, And understand what he would say to me.

I would learn how He would answer, and consider what He would say.

6 Would he contend with me with his mighty power? No! he would have regard to me.

Would He contend with me in His great power? No, He would certainly take note of me.

7 Then would an upright man contend with him, And I should be fully acquitted by my judge.

Then an upright man could reason with Him, and I would be delivered forever from my Judge.

8 But, behold, I go eastward, and he is not there; And westward, but I cannot perceive him;

If I go east, He is not there, and if I go west, I cannot find Him.

9 To the north, where he worketh, but I cannot behold him; He hideth himself on the south, and I cannot see him.

When He is at work in the north, I cannot behold Him; when He turns to the south, I cannot see Him.

10 But he knoweth the way which is in my heart; When he trieth me, I shall come forth as gold.

Yet He knows the way I have taken; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.

11 My feet have trodden in his steps; His way I have kept, and have not turned aside from it.

My feet have followed in His tracks; I have kept His way without turning aside.

12 I have not neglected the precepts of his lips; Above my own law have I esteemed the words of his mouth.

I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread.

13 But he is of one mind, and who can turn him? And what he desireth, that he doeth.

But He is unchangeable, and who can oppose Him? He does what He desires.

14 He performeth that which is appointed for me; And many such things are in his mind!

For He carries out His decree against me, and He has many such plans.

15 Therefore I am in terror on account of him; When I consider, I am afraid of him.

Therefore I am terrified in His presence; when I consider this, I fear Him.

16 For God maketh my heart faint; Yea, the Almighty terrifieth me;

God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me.

17 Because I was not taken away before darkness came, And he hath not hidden darkness from mine eyes.

Yet I am not silenced by the darkness, by the thick darkness that covers my face.