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.

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 even to his seat!

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

I would order my 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 which he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me.

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

Will 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 dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.

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

Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot 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 does work, but I cannot behold him: he hides himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:

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

But he knows the way that I take: when he has tried 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 has held his steps, his way have I kept, and 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.

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 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 desires, even that he does.

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

For he performs the thing that 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: when I consider, I am afraid of him.

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

For God makes my heart soft, and the Almighty troubles 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 has he covered the darkness from my face.