Job 23
1 Then Job answered and said,
Then answered Job, and said,
2 Even to-day [is] my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.
Even now is my complaint bitter: my suffering is heavier than my groans.
3 Oh that I knew where I might find him! [that] I might come [even] to his seat!
Oh who would grant that I knew where I might find him! that I might attain to his Judgment throne!
4 I would order [my] cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.
I would put in order before him my cause, 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 should know the words which he might answer me, and understand what he might say unto me.
6 Would he plead against me with [his] great power? No; but he would put [strength] in me.
Would he with his power contend against me? he would truly not lay such doings to my charge.
7 There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.
There would an upright one argue with him; and I should be allowed to escape for ever by my judge.
8 Behold, I go forward, but he [is] not [there]; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:
But, lo, I go eastward—and he is not there; and to the west— and 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]:
When he doth great things at the north, I behold him not; he hideth himself in the south—and I see him not.
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 take: were he to probe me, I should come forth as gold.
11 My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.
On his steps my foot hath held fast: his way have I kept, and swerved not.
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].
From the commandment of his lips have I also not moved away: as a fixed statute for me have I treasured up the sayings of his mouth.
13 But he [is] in one [mind], and who can turn him? and [what] his soul desireth, even [that] he doeth.
But he is unchangeably one, and who can turn him? And what his will desireth, even that he doth.
14 For he performeth [the thing that is] appointed for me: and many such [things are] with him.
For he will bring to completion what hath been destined for me: and like these hath he many other things with him.
15 Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.
Therefore am I terrified at his presence: I will reflect, and be in dread of him.
16 For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:
Still God hath made timid my heart, and the Almighty hath terrified me;
17 Because I was not cut off before the darkness, [neither] hath he covered the darkness from my face.
Because I was not destroyed before this darkness, and because he hath not hidden from my face [this] gloom.
