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 I go 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 will come out 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 away.

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. The Almighty 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.