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.

Even to-day [is] my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.

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

Oh that I knew where I might find him! [that] I might come [even] to his seat!

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

I would order [my] cause 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 know the words [which] 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.

Would he plead against me with [his] great power? No; but he would put [strength] in me.

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

There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.

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

Behold, I go forward, but he [is] not [there]; and backward, but 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.

On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold [him]: he hideth himself on the right hand, that 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.

But he knoweth the way that I take: [when] he hath tried me, I shall 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 foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.

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

Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary [food].

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

But he [is] in one [mind], and who can turn him? and [what] his soul desireth, even [that] he doeth.

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

For he performeth [the thing that is] appointed for me: and many such [things are] with him.

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

Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.

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

For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:

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

Because I was not cut off before the darkness, [neither] hath he covered the darkness from my face.