Job 23

1 Then Job answered and said,

Bvt Iob answered and sayd,

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

Though my talke be this day in bitternes, and my plague greater then my groning,

3 Oh that I knew where I might find him! [that] I might come [even] to his seat!

Would God yet I knew how to finde him, I would enter vnto his place.

4 I would order [my] cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.

I would pleade the cause 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 knowe the wordes, that he would answere me, and would vnderstand what he would say vnto me.

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

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

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

There the righteous might reason with him, so I shoulde be deliuered for euer from my Iudge.

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

Behold, if I go to the East, he is not there: if to the West, yet I can not perceiue 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]:

If to the North where he worketh, yet I cannot see him: he wil hide himselfe in the South, and I cannot beholde him.

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

But he knoweth my way, and trieth mee, and I shall come forth like the gold.

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

My foote hath followed his steps: his way haue I kept, and haue not declined.

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].

Neyther haue I departed from the commandement of his lippes, and I haue esteemed the words of his mouth more then mine appointed foode.

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

Yet he is in one minde, and who can turne him? yea, he doeth what his minde desireth.

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

For he will performe that, which is decreed of me, and many such things are with him.

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

Therefore I am troubled at his presence, and in considering it, I am afraid of him.

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

For God hath softened mine heart, and the Almightie hath troubled me.

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

For I am not cut off in darknesse, but he hath hid the darkenesse from my face.