Job 23

1 Then responded Job, and said: —

Then Job answered and said,

2 Even to-day, is my complaint rebellion? His hand, is heavier than my groaning.

Yea, I know that pleading is out of my reach; and his hand has been made heavy upon my groaning.

3 Oh that I knew where I might find him! I would come even unto his dwelling-place;

Who would then know that I might find him, and come to an end [of the matter]?

4 I would set out, before him, a plea, and, my mouth, would I fill with arguments;

And I would plead my own cause, and he would fill my mouth with arguments.

5 I would note the words wherewith he would respond to me, and would mark what he would say to me.

And I would know the remedies which he would speak to me, and I would perceive what he would tell me.

6 Would he, with fulness of might, contend with me? Nay, surely, he, would give heed to me!

Though he should come on me in [his] great strength, then he would not threaten me;

7 There an upright man, might reason with him, so should I deliver myself completely from my judge.

for truth and reproof are from him; and he would bring forth my judgment to an end.

8 Behold! eastward, I go, but he is not there, and, westward, but I perceive him not;

For if I shall go first, and exist no longer, still what do I know [concerning] the latter end?

9 On the north, where he worketh, but I get no vision, He hideth himself on the south that I cannot see him.

When he wrought on the left hand, then I observed [it] not: his right hand shall encompass me but I shall not see [it].

10 But, he, knoweth the way that I choose, Having tried me, as gold, I shall come forth.

For he knows already my way; and he has tried me as gold.

11 Of his steps, my foot taketh hold, His way, have I kept, and not swerved;

And I will go forth according to his commandments, for I have kept his ways; and I shall not turn aside from his commandments,

12 The command of his lips, and would not go back, and, in my bosom, have I treasured the words of his lips.

neither shall I transgress; but I have hid his words in my bosom.

13 But, he, is one, and who can turn him? What his soul desired, he hath done.

And if too he has thus judged, who is he that has contradicted, for he has both willed [a thing] and done it.

14 Surely he will accomplish what is decreed for me, and, many such things, hath he in store.

15 For this cause, from his presence, am I driven in fear, I diligently consider and am kept back from him in dread:

Therefore am I troubled at him; and when I was reproved, I thought of him. Therefore let me take good heed before him: I will consider, and be afraid of him.

16 Yea, GOD, hath made timid my heart, and, the Almighty, hath put me in terror.

But the Lord has softened my heart, and the Almighty has troubled me.

17 Because I was not cut off before the darkness, nor, before my face, did the gloom form a shroud.

For I knew not that darkness would come upon me, and thick darkness has covered [me] before my face.