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.

Still is my complaint bitter; But my wound is deeper than my groaning.

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

O that I knew where I might find him! That I might go before his throne!

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

I would order my cause 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 should know what he would answer me, And understand 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 contend with me with his mighty power? No! he would have regard to me.

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

Then would an upright man contend with him, And I should be fully acquitted by my judge.

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

But, behold, I go eastward, and he is not there; And westward, but I cannot perceive 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.

To the north, where he worketh, but I cannot behold him; He hideth himself on the south, and I cannot see him.

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

But he knoweth the way which is in my heart; When he trieth me, I shall 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 trodden in his steps; His way I have kept, and have not turned aside from it.

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 neglected the precepts of his lips; Above my own law have I esteemed the words of his mouth.

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

But he is of one mind, and who can turn him? And what he desireth, that he doeth.

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

He performeth that which is appointed for me; And many such things are in his mind!

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

Therefore I am in terror on account of him; When I consider, I am afraid of him.

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

For God maketh my heart faint; Yea, the Almighty terrifieth me;

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

Because I was not taken away before darkness came, And he hath not hidden darkness from mine eyes.