Job 23

1 Then Job answered and said:

Then answered Job, and said,

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

Even now is my complaint bitter: my suffering is heavier than my groans.

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

Oh who would grant that I knew where I might find him! that I might attain to his Judgment throne!

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

I would put in order before him my cause, and my mouth would I fill with arguments.

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

I should know the words which he might answer me, and understand what he might say unto me.

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

Would he with his power contend against me? he would truly not lay such doings to my charge.

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

There would an upright one argue with him; and I should be allowed to escape for ever by my judge.

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

But, lo, I go eastward—and he is not there; and to the west— and I cannot perceive 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 doth great things at the north, I behold him not; he hideth himself in the south—and I see him not.

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

But he knoweth the way that I take: were he to probe me, I should come forth as gold.

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

On his steps my foot hath held fast: his way have I kept, and swerved not.

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

From the commandment of his lips have I also not moved away: as a fixed statute for me have I treasured up the sayings of his mouth.

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

But he is unchangeably one, and who can turn him? And what his will desireth, even that he doth.

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

For he will bring to completion what hath been destined for me: and like these hath he many other things with him.

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

Therefore am I terrified at his presence: I will reflect, and be in dread of him.

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

Still God hath made timid my heart, and the Almighty hath terrified me;

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

Because I was not destroyed before this darkness, and because he hath not hidden from my face [this] gloom.