Job 23

1 And Job answereth and saith: —

Then Job answered and said,

2 Also — to-day [is] my complaint bitter, My hand hath been heavy because of my sighing.

Yes, I know that pleading is out of my reach; and his hand has been made heavy upon my groaning.

3 O that I had known — and I find Him, I come in unto His seat,

Who would then know that I might find him, and come to an end [of the matter]?

4 I arrange before Him the cause, And my mouth fill [with] arguments.

And I would plead my own cause, and he would fill my mouth with arguments.

5 I know the words He doth answer me, And understand what He saith to me.

And I would know the remedies which he would speak to me, and I would perceive what he would tell me.

6 In the abundance of power doth He strive with me? No! surely He putteth [it] in me.

Though he should come on me in [his] great strength, then he would not threaten me;

7 There the upright doth reason with Him, And I escape for ever from my judge.

for truth and reproof are from him; and he would bring forth my judgement to an end.

8 Lo, forward I go — and He is not, And backward — and I perceive him not.

For if I shall go first, and exist no longer, still what do I know [concerning] the latter end?

9 [To] the left in His working — and I see not, He is covered [on] the right, and I behold not.

When he wrought on the left hand, then I observed [it] not: his right hand shall encompass me but I shall not see [it].

10 For He hath known the way with me, He hath tried me — as gold I go forth.

For he knows already my way; and he has tried me as gold.

11 On His step hath my foot laid hold, His way I have kept, and turn not aside,

And I will go forth according to his commandments, for I have kept his ways; and I shall not turn aside from his commandments,

12 The command of His lips, and I depart not. Above my allotted portion I have laid up The sayings of His mouth.

neither shall I transgress; but I have hid his words in my bosom.

13 And He [is] in one [mind], And who doth turn Him back? And His soul hath desired — and He doth [it].

And if too he has thus judged, who is he that has contradicted, for he has both willed [a thing] and done it.

14 For He doth complete my portion, And many such things [are] with Him.

15 Therefore, from His presence I am troubled, I consider, and am afraid of Him.

Therefore am I troubled at him; and when I was reproved, I thought of him. Therefore let me take good heed before him: I will consider, and be afraid of him.

16 And God hath made my heart soft, And the Mighty hath troubled me.

But the Lord has softened my heart, and the Almighty has troubled me.

17 For I have not been cut off before darkness, And before me He covered thick darkness.

For I knew not that darkness would come upon me, and thick darkness has covered [me] before my face.