Job 23

1 Then responded Job, and said: —

Then Job replied again,

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

“Today I am again complaining bitterly/strongly [to God]; I [continue] groaning, but he [SYN] [continues to] (punish me/cause me to suffer).

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

I (wish that I knew/want to know) where I could meet/talk with him, so that I could go to the place where he lives.

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

If I could do that, I would tell him why [I know that] I am innocent; I would tell [MTY] to him all my (arguments/evidence [to show that I have not done what is evil]).

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

Then I would find out what he would reply to me [DOU].

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

Would he use his great power to argue with me? No, he would listen to me carefully.

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

I am (an honest/a righteous) man; so I would be able to discuss things with him [fairly], and then he would declare that I am innocent, [and that decision would endure] forever.

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

“But, I have gone to the east, and he is not there; I have gone to the west, but I have not found him there.

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

I have gone north and I have gone south, but I have not seen him anywhere.

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

But he knows how I have conducted my life; and when he has finished testing me, [he] will [see that] I [am] as pure as [SIM] gold [whose impurities have all been burned out].

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

I [SYN] have faithfully walked on the path that he showed me; I have not stopped [obeying] him.

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

I have always obeyed what he [SYN] commanded; I have treasured the words that he has spoken.

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

“He never changes. There is no one who can [RHQ] stop him [from doing what he desires]. Whatever he wants to do, he does.

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

And he will finish doing for me the things that he has planned for me; [and I am sure that] he has thought about doing many things for me.

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

So I am terrified in his presence; when I think [about what he can do], I am very afraid [DOU].

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

Almighty God has caused me [SYN] to feel terrified [DOU].

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

[It is as though] there is only thick darkness in front of me, but it is God that I am afraid of, not the darkness.”