Job 23

1 And Job answereth and saith: —

Then Job answered,

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

"Even today my complaint is rebellious. His hand is heavy in spite 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 set my cause in order 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 tell 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 the greatness of his power? No, but he would listen to 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 I should be delivered forever from my judge.

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

"If I go east, he is not there; if west, I can't find him;

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

He works to the north, but I can't see him. He turns south, but I can't catch a glimpse of him.

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

But he knows the way that I take. When he has tried me, I shall come forth like gold.

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

My foot has held fast to his steps. I have kept his way, and not turned 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 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 And He [is] in one [mind], And who doth turn Him back? And His soul hath desired — and He doth [it].

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

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

For he performs that which is appointed for me. Many such things are with him.

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

Therefore I am terrified 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.

For God has made my heart faint. Shaddai has terrified 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.