Job 23

1 And Job answereth and saith: —

Job replied,

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

“Just the same, my complaints today remain bitter. In spite of my groaning he is still punishing me.

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

If only I knew where I could find him so I could go to where he sits in judgment.

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

There I would lay out my case before him and present all my arguments in full.

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

I would discover how he would answer me and learn what he has to say to me.

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

Would he fight against me using his mighty power? No, he would pay attention to what I have to say.

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

There a good person could reason with him, and I would be acquitted forever by my judge.

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

If I go to the east, he's not there; if I go the west, I don't find him.

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

If he's working in the north, I don't perceive him; if he's moving south, I don't see him.

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

Yet he always knows where I'm going. When he has proved me, I will come out shining like gold.

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

I have kept in step with him; I have followed his way without turning aside.

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

I have not neglected his commands, for I value what he has told me to do more than the food I eat every day.

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

But God is unchangeable—who can turn him from his purposes? He does whatever he wants to do.

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

So he will finish whatever he has planned for me—and he has many plans for me.

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

That's why I'm terrified at meeting him; when I think of him I tremble with fear.

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

God has made me faint-hearted; the Almighty has scared me to death.

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

Yet I'm still here despite the dark—even though I can't see through the utter darkness.