Job 23

1 respondens autem Iob dixit

Then Job answered:

2 nunc quoque in amaritudine est sermo meus et manus plagae meae adgravata est super gemitum meum

“Even today my complaint is bitter. His hand is heavy despite my groaning.

3 quis mihi tribuat ut cognoscam et inveniam illum et veniam usque ad solium eius

If only I knew where to find Him, so that I could go to His seat.

4 ponam coram eo iudicium et os meum replebo increpationibus

I would plead my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments.

5 ut sciam verba quae mihi respondeat et intellegam quid loquatur mihi

I would learn how He would answer, and consider what He would say.

6 nolo multa fortitudine contendat mecum nec magnitudinis suae mole me premat

Would He contend with me in His great power? No, He would certainly take note of me.

7 proponat aequitatem contra me et perveniat ad victoriam iudicium meum

Then an upright man could reason with Him, and I would be delivered forever from my Judge.

8 si ad orientem iero non apparet si ad occidentem non intellegam eum

If I go east, He is not there, and if I go west, I cannot find Him.

9 si ad sinistram quid agat non adprehendam eum si me vertam ad dextram non videbo illum

When He is at work in the north, I cannot behold Him; when He turns to the south, I cannot see Him.

10 ipse vero scit viam meam et probavit me quasi aurum quod per ignem transit

Yet He knows the way I have taken; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.

11 vestigia eius secutus est pes meus viam eius custodivi et non declinavi ex ea

My feet have followed in His tracks; I have kept His way without turning aside.

12 a mandatis labiorum eius non recessi et in sinu meo abscondi verba oris eius

I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread.

13 ipse enim solus est et nemo avertere potest cogitationem eius et anima eius quodcumque voluerit hoc facit

But He is unchangeable, and who can oppose Him? He does what He desires.

14 cum expleverit in me voluntatem suam et alia multa similia praesto sunt ei

For He carries out His decree against me, and He has many such plans.

15 et idcirco a facie eius turbatus sum et considerans eum timore sollicitor

Therefore I am terrified in His presence; when I consider this, I fear Him.

16 Deus mollivit cor meum et Omnipotens conturbavit me

God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me.

17 non enim perii propter inminentes tenebras nec faciem meam operuit caligo

Yet I am not silenced by the darkness, by the thick darkness that covers my face.