Job 23

1 respondens autem Iob dixit

Then Job answered and said,

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

“Even today my complaint is bitter; my hand is heavy because of my groaning.

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

Oh, that I knew where I might find him! Oh, that I might come to his place!

4 ponam coram eo iudicium et os meum replebo increpationibus

I would lay my case in order before him and fill my mouth with arguments.

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

I would learn the words with which he would answer me and would understand what he would say to me.

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

Would he argue against me in the greatness of his power? No, he would pay attention to me.

7 proponat aequitatem contra me et perveniat ad victoriam iudicium meum

There the upright person might argue with him. In this way I would be acquitted forever by my judge.

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

See, I go eastward, but he is not there, and westward, but I cannot perceive him.

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

To the north, where he is at work, but I cannot see him, and to the south, where he hides himself so that I cannot see him.

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

But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come out like gold.

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

My foot has held fast to his steps; I have kept to his way and turned not aside.

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

I have not gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.

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

But he is one of a kind, who can turn him back? What he desires, he does.

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

For he carries out his decree against me; there are many like them.

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

Therefore, I am terrified in his presence; when I think about him, I am afraid of him.

16 Deus mollivit cor meum et Omnipotens conturbavit me

For God has made my heart weak; the Almighty has terrified me.

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

I have not been brought to an end by darkness, because of the thick darkness that covers the gloom of my face.