Job 23

1 Then Job replied again,

Bvt Iob answered and sayd,

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

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

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.

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

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]).

I would pleade the cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.

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

I would knowe the wordes, that he would answere me, and would vnderstand what he would say vnto me.

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

Would he plead against me with his great power? No, but he would put strength in me.

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

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.

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

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

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 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].

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

For he will performe that, which is decreed of me, and many such things are with him.

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

Therefore I am troubled at his presence, and in considering it, I am afraid of him.

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

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

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.”

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