Job 23

1 Then responded Job, and said: —

Bvt Iob answered and sayd,

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

Though my talke be this day in bitternes, and my plague greater then my groning,

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

Would God yet I knew how to finde him, I would enter vnto his place.

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

I would pleade 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 knowe the wordes, that he would answere me, and would vnderstand what he would say vnto 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? No, but he would put strength in me.

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

There the righteous might reason with him, so I shoulde be deliuered for euer from my Iudge.

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

Behold, if I go to the East, he is not there: if to the West, yet I can not perceiue him:

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

If to the North where he worketh, yet I cannot see him: he wil hide himselfe in the South, and I cannot beholde him.

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

But he knoweth my way, and trieth mee, and I shall come forth like the gold.

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

My foote hath followed his steps: his way haue I kept, and haue not declined.

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

Neyther haue I departed from the commandement of his lippes, and I haue esteemed the words of his mouth more then mine appointed foode.

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

Yet he is in one minde, and who can turne him? yea, he doeth what his minde desireth.

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

For he will performe that, which is decreed of 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 I am troubled at his presence, and in considering it, I am afraid of him.

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

For God hath softened mine heart, and the Almightie hath troubled me.

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

For I am not cut off in darknesse, but he hath hid the darkenesse from my face.