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.

Even to-day is my complaint bitter; my hand is become heavy because of my groaning.

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

Oh that I knew where I might find Him, that I might come even to His seat!

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

I would order my cause before Him, and fill my mouth with arguments.

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

I would know the words which He would answer me, and understand what He would say unto me.

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

Would He contend with me in His great power? Nay; but He would give heed unto me.

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

There the upright might reason with Him; so should I be delivered for ever from my Judge.

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

Behold, I go forward, but He is not there, and backward, but I cannot perceive Him;

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

On the left hand, when He doth work, but I cannot behold Him, He turneth Himself to the right hand, but I cannot see Him.

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

For He knoweth the way that I take; when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

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

My foot hath held fast to His steps, His way have I kept, and turned not 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 gone back from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured up the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.

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

But He is at one with Himself, and who can turn Him? And what His soul desireth, even that He doeth.

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

For He will perform that which is appointed for me; 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 affrighted at His presence; when I consider, I am afraid of Him.

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

Yea, God hath made my heart faint, and the Almighty hath affrighted me;

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

Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither did He cover the thick darkness from my face.