Job 23

1 Then Job answered and said,

And Job made answer and said,

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

Even today my outcry is bitter; his hand is hard on my sorrow.

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

If only I had knowledge of where he might be seen, so that I might come even to his seat!

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

I would put my cause in order before him, and my mouth would be full of arguments.

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

I would see what his answers would be, and have knowledge of what he would say to me.

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

Would he make use of his great power to overcome me? No, but he would give attention to me.

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

There an upright man might put his cause before him; and I would be free for ever from my judge.

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

See, I go forward, but he is not there; and back, but I do not see 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.

I am looking for him on the left hand, but there is no sign of him; and turning to the right, I am not able to see him.

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

For he has knowledge of the way I take; after I have been tested I will come out like gold.

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

My feet have gone in his steps; I have kept in his way, without turning to one side or to the other.

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 never gone against the orders of his lips; the words of his mouth have been stored up in my heart.

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

But his purpose is fixed and there is no changing it; and he gives effect to the desire of his soul.

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

For what has been ordered for me by him will be gone through to the end: and his mind is full of such designs.

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

For this cause I am in fear before him, my thoughts of him overcome me.

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

For God has made my heart feeble, and my mind is troubled before the Ruler of all.

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

For I am overcome by the dark, and by the black night which is covering my face.