Job 23

1 Then Job answered and said,

Then Job answered:

2 “Even today my complaint is bitter; my hand is heavy because of my groaning.

“Even today my complaint is bitter. His hand is heavy despite my groaning.

3 Oh, that I knew where I might find him! Oh, that I might come to his place!

If only I knew where to find Him, so that I could go to His seat.

4 I would lay my case in order before him and fill my mouth with arguments.

I would plead my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments.

5 I would learn the words with which he would answer me and would understand what he would say to me.

I would learn how He would answer, and consider what He would say.

6 Would he argue against me in the greatness of his power? No, he would pay attention to me.

Would He contend with me in His great power? No, He would certainly take note of me.

7 There the upright person might argue with him. In this way I would be acquitted forever by my judge.

Then an upright man could reason with Him, and I would be delivered forever from my Judge.

8 See, I go eastward, but he is not there, and westward, but I cannot perceive him.

If I go east, He is not there, and if I go west, I cannot find Him.

9 To the north, where he is at work, but I cannot see him, and to the south, where he hides himself so that I cannot see him.

When He is at work in the north, I cannot behold Him; when He turns to the south, I cannot see Him.

10 But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come out like gold.

Yet He knows the way I have taken; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.

11 My foot has held fast to his steps; I have kept to his way and turned not aside.

My feet have followed in His tracks; I have kept His way without turning aside.

12 I have not gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.

I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread.

13 But he is one of a kind, who can turn him back? What he desires, he does.

But He is unchangeable, and who can oppose Him? He does what He desires.

14 For he carries out his decree against me; there are many like them.

For He carries out His decree against me, and He has many such plans.

15 Therefore, I am terrified in his presence; when I think about him, I am afraid of him.

Therefore I am terrified in His presence; when I consider this, I fear Him.

16 For God has made my heart weak; the Almighty has terrified me.

God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me.

17 I have not been brought to an end by darkness, because of the thick darkness that covers the gloom of my face.

Yet I am not silenced by the darkness, by the thick darkness that covers my face.