Job 23

1 Then Job answered and said:

Then Job answered, and said:

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

Now also my words are in bitterness, and the hand of my scourge is more grievous than my mourning.

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

Who will grant me that I might know and find him, and come even to his throne?

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

I would set judgment before him, and would fill my mouth with complaints.

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

That I might know the words that he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me.

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

I would not that he should contend with me with much strength, nor overwhelm me with the weight of his greatness.

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

Let him propose equity against me, and let my judgment come to victory.

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

But if I go to the east, he appeareth not; if to the west, I shall not understand him.

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

If to the left hand, what shall I do? I shall not take hold on him: if I turn myself to the right hand, I shall not see him.

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

But he knoweth my way, and has tried me as gold that passeth through the fire:

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

My foot hath followed his steps, I have kept his way, and have not declined from it.

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 commandments of his lips, and the words of his mouth I have hid in my bosom.

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

For he is alone, and no man can turn away his thought: and whatsoever is soul hath desired, that hath he done.

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

And when he shall have fulfilled his will in me, many other like things are also at hand with him.

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

And therefore I am troubled at his presence, and when I consider him I am made pensive with fear.

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

God hath softened my heart, and the Almighty hath troubled me.

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

For I have not perished because of the darkness that hangs over me, neither hath the mist covered my face.