Job 23

1 Then Job answered and said,

Then Job answered and said,

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

Yes, I know that pleading is out of my reach; and his hand has been made heavy upon my groaning.

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

Who would then know that I might find him, and come to an end [of the matter]?

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

And I would plead my own cause, and he would 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.

And I would know the remedies which he would speak to me, and I would perceive what he would tell me.

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

Though he should come on me in [his] great strength, then he would not threaten me;

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

for truth and reproof are from him; and he would bring forth my judgment to an end.

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

For if I shall go first, and exist no longer, still what do I know [concerning] the latter end?

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 wrought on the left hand, then I observed [it] not: his right hand shall encompass me but I shall not see [it].

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

For he knows already my way; and he has tried me as gold.

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

And I will go forth according to his commandments, for I have kept his ways; and I shall not turn aside from his commandments,

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.

neither shall I transgress; but I have hid his words in my bosom.

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

And if too he has thus judged, who is he that has contradicted, for he has both willed [a thing] and done it.

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

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

Therefore am I troubled at him; and when I was reproved, I thought of him. Therefore let me take good heed before him: I will consider, and be afraid of him.

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

But the Lord has softened my heart, and the Almighty has troubled me.

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 knew not that darkness would come upon me, and thick darkness has covered [me] before my face.