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 unto 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 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 that I choose, Having tried me, as gold, I shall come forth.

But he knoweth the way that I take: [when] he hath 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 hath 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 desireth, even [that] he doeth.

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

For he performeth [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 maketh 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 covered the darkness from my face.