Job 23

1 Then Job answered and said,

Then Job answered,

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

“Even today my complaint is rebellious. His hand is heavy in spite of my groaning.

3 Oh 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! That I might come even to his seat!

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

I would set my cause 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 know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would tell me.

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

Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No, but he would listen to me.

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

There the upright might reason with him, so I should be delivered forever from my judge.

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

“If I go east, he is not there. If I go west, I can’t find 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]:

He works to the north, but I can’t see him. He turns south, but I can’t catch a glimpse of 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 tried 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 his way, and not turned away.

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 haven’t gone back from the commandment of his lips. I have treasured up the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

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

But he stands alone, and who can oppose him? What his soul desires, even that he does.

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

For he performs that which is appointed for me. 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 terrified at his presence. When I consider, I am afraid of him.

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

For God has made my heart faint. The Almighty has 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 cut off before the darkness, neither did he cover the thick darkness from my face.