Job 23
1 Respondens autem Job, ait:
Then Job answered and said:
2 Nunc quoque in amaritudine est sermo meus, et manus plagæ meæ aggravata est super gemitum meum.
Even to-day is my complaint bitter; my hand is become heavy because of my groaning.
3 Quis mihi tribuat ut cognoscam et inveniam illum, et veniam usque ad solium ejus?
Oh that I knew where I might find Him, that I might come even to His seat!
4 Ponam coram eo judicium, et os meum replebo increpationibus:
I would order my cause before Him, and fill my mouth with arguments.
5 ut sciam verba quæ mihi respondeat, et intelligam quid loquatur mihi.
I would know the words which He would answer me, and understand what He would say unto me.
6 Nolo multa fortitudine contendat mecum, nec magnitudinis suæ mole me premat.
Would He contend with me in His great power? Nay; but He would give heed unto me.
7 Proponat æquitatem contra me, et perveniat ad victoriam judicium meum.
There the upright might reason with Him; so should I be delivered for ever from my Judge.
8 Si ad orientem iero, non apparet; si ad occidentem, non intelligam eum.
Behold, I go forward, but He is not there, and backward, but I cannot perceive Him;
9 Si ad sinistram, quid agam? non apprehendam eum; si me vertam ad dexteram, non videbo illum.
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 Ipse vero scit viam meam, et probavit me quasi aurum quod per ignem transit.
For He knoweth the way that I take; when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
11 Vestigia ejus secutus est pes meus: viam ejus custodivi, et non declinavi ex ea.
My foot hath held fast to His steps, His way have I kept, and turned not aside.
12 A mandatis labiorum ejus non recessi, et in sinu meo abscondi verba oris ejus.
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 Ipse enim solus est, et nemo avertere potest cogitationem ejus: et anima ejus quodcumque voluit, hoc fecit.
But He is at one with Himself, and who can turn Him? And what His soul desireth, even that He doeth.
14 Cum expleverit in me voluntatem suam, et alia multa similia præsto sunt ei.
For He will perform that which is appointed for me; and many such things are with Him.
15 Et idcirco a facie ejus turbatus sum, et considerans eum, timore sollicitor.
Therefore am I affrighted at His presence; when I consider, I am afraid of Him.
16 Deus mollivit cor meum, et Omnipotens conturbavit me.
Yea, God hath made my heart faint, and the Almighty hath affrighted me;
17 Non enim perii propter imminentes tenebras, nec faciem meam operuit caligo.
Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither did He cover the thick darkness from my face.
