Job 23

1 Then Job replied again,

Job replied,

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

“Just the same, my complaints today remain bitter. In spite of my groaning he is still punishing me.

3 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.

If only I knew where I could find him so I could go to where he sits in judgment.

4 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]).

There I would lay out my case before him and present all my arguments in full.

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

I would discover how he would answer me and learn what he has to say to me.

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

Would he fight against me using his mighty power? No, he would pay attention to what I have to say.

7 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.

There a good person could reason with him, and I would be acquitted forever by my judge.

8 “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.

If I go to the east, he's not there; if I go the west, I don't find him.

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

If he's working in the north, I don't perceive him; if he's moving south, I don't see him.

10 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].

Yet he always knows where I'm going. When he has proved me, I will come out shining like gold.

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

I have kept in step with him; I have followed his way without turning aside.

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

I have not neglected his commands, for I value what he has told me to do more than the food I eat every day.

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

But God is unchangeable—who can turn him from his purposes? He does whatever he wants to do.

14 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.

So he will finish whatever he has planned for me—and he has many plans for me.

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

That's why I'm terrified at meeting him; when I think of him I tremble with fear.

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

God has made me faint-hearted; the Almighty has scared me to death.

17 [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.”

Yet I'm still here despite the dark—even though I can't see through the utter darkness.