Job 23

1 Then Job answered and said,

Then Job answered and said,

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

“Even today my complaint is bitter; my hand is heavy because of 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! Oh, that I might come to his place!

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

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

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

I would learn the words with which he would answer me and would understand 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 argue against me in the greatness of his power? No, he would pay attention to me.

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

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

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

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

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:

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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 of a kind, who can turn him back? What he desires, he does.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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