Job 23

1 Then responded Job, and said: —

And Job answered and said,

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

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

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

Oh that I knew where I might find him, that I might come to his seat!

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

I would order the cause before him, and 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.

I would know the words he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.

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

Would he plead against me with [his] great power? Nay; but he would give heed unto me.

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

There would an upright man reason with him; and I should be delivered for ever from my judge.

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

Lo, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I do not perceive him;

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

On the left hand, where he doth work, but I behold [him] not; he hideth himself on the right hand, and I see [him] not.

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

But he knoweth the way that I take; he trieth me, I shall come forth as gold.

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

My foot hath held to his steps; his way have I kept, and not turned aside.

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

Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have laid up the words of his mouth more than the purpose of my own heart.

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

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

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

For he will perform [what] is appointed for me; and many such things are with him.

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 his presence; I consider, and I am afraid of him.

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

For God hath made my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me;

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

Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he hidden the gloom from me.