Job 23

1 Then Job answered and said,

Then responded Job, and said: —

2 Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.

Even to-day, is my complaint rebellion? His hand, is heavier than my groaning.

3 O that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!

Oh that I knew where I might find him! I would come even unto his dwelling-place;

4 I would set my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.

I would set out, before him, a plea, and, my mouth, would I fill with arguments;

5 I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me.

I would note the words wherewith he would respond to me, and would mark what he would say to me.

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

Would he, with fulness of might, contend with me? Nay, surely, he, would give heed to me!

7 There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.

There an upright man, might reason with him, so should I deliver myself completely from my judge.

8 Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:

Behold! eastward, I go, but he is not there, and, westward, but I perceive him not;

9 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:

On the north, where he worketh, but I get no vision, He hideth himself on the south that I cannot see him.

10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

But, he, knoweth the way that I choose, Having tried me, as gold, I shall come forth.

11 My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.

Of his steps, my foot taketh hold, His way, have I kept, and not swerved;

12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

The command of his lips, and would not go back, and, in my bosom, have I treasured the words of his lips.

13 But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.

But, he, is one, and who can turn him? What his soul desired, he hath done.

14 For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.

Surely he will accomplish what is decreed for me, and, many such things, hath he in store.

15 Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.

For this cause, from his presence, am I driven in fear, I diligently consider and am kept back from him in dread:

16 For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:

Yea, GOD, hath made timid my heart, and, the Almighty, hath put me in terror.

17 Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he covered the darkness from my face.

Because I was not cut off before the darkness, nor, before my face, did the gloom form a shroud.