Job 23

1 Respondens autem Iob, ait:

And Job answers and says:

2 Nunc quoque in amaritudine est sermo meus, et manus plagae meae aggravata est super gemitum meum.

“Also—today my complaint [is] bitter, My hand has been heavy because of my sighing.

3 Quis mihi tribuat ut cognoscam et inveniam illum, et veniam usque ad solium eius?

O that I had known—and I find Him, I come to His seat,

4 Ponam coram eo iudicium, et os meum replebo increpationibus.

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

5 Ut sciam verba, quae mihi respondeat, et intelligam quid loquatur mihi.

I know the words He answers me, And understand what He says to me.

6 Nolo multa fortitudine contendat mecum, nec magnitudinis suae mole me premat.

Does He strive with me in the abundance of power? No! Surely He puts [it] in me.

7 Proponat aequitatem contra me, et perveniet ad victoriam iudicium meum.

There the upright reason with Him, And I escape from mine who is judging—forever.

8 Si ad Orientem iero, non apparet: si ad Occidentem, non intelligam eum.

Behold, I go forward—and He is not, And backward—and I do not perceive Him.

9 Si ad sinistram, quid agam? non apprehendam eum: si me vertam ad dexteram, non videbo illum.

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

10 Ipse vero scit viam meam, et probavit me quasi aurum, quod per ignem transit:

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

11 Vestigia eius secutus est pes meus, viam eius custodivi, et non declinavi ex ea.

My foot has laid hold on His step, I have kept His way, and do not turn aside,

12 A mandatis labiorum eius non recessi, et in sinu meo abscondi verba oris eius.

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

13 Ipse enim solus est, et nemo avertere potest cogitationem eius: et anima eius quodcumque voluit, hoc fecit.

And He [is] in one [mind], And who turns Him back? And His soul has desired—and He does [it].

14 Cum expleverit in me voluntatem suam, et alia multa similia praesto sunt ei.

For He completes my portion, And many such things [are] with Him.

15 Et idcirco a facie eius turbatus sum, et considerans eum, timore solicitor.

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

16 Deus mollivit cor meum, et Omnipotens conturbavit me.

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

17 Non enim perii propter imminentes tenebras, nec faciem meam operuit caligo.

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