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Job 23

23 Then Job answered and said,

2 Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.

3 Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!

4 I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.

5 I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.

6 Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.

7 There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.

8 Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:

9 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:

10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

11 My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.

12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

13 But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.

14 For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.

15 Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.

16 For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:

17 Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he covered the darkness from my face.

Job Answers

23 Then Job answered:

2 “I am still complaining today.
I groan because God is still making me suffer.
3 I wish I knew where to find him.
I wish I knew how to go to where he lives.
4 I would present my case to him.
I would make my arguments to show that I am innocent.
5 He could give his response, and I would understand.
I would listen closely to what he says.
6 Would God use his power against me?
No, he would listen to me!
7 Since I am an honest man, he would let me tell my story.
Then my Judge would set me free!

8 “If I go to the east, God is not there.
If I go to the west, I still don’t see him.
9 When he is working in the north, I don’t see him.
When he turns to the south, I still don’t see him.
10 But God knows me.
He is testing me and will see that I am as pure as gold.
11 I have always lived the way God wants.
I have never stopped following him.
12 I always obey his commands.
I love the words from his mouth more than I love my food.

13 “But God never changes,
and who can stand against him?
He does anything he wants.
14 He will do to me what he planned,
and he has many other plans for me.
15 That is why I am terrified to stand before him.
Just thinking about it makes me afraid.
16 The fear of God has made me lose my courage.
God All-Powerful makes me afraid.
17 What has happened to me is like a dark cloud over my face.
But the darkness will not keep me quiet.

23 Then Job answered and said,

2 Even to-day is my complaint [ a ] rebellious:
My stroke is heavier than my groaning.
3 Oh that I knew where I might find him!
That I might come even to his seat!
4 I would set my cause in order before him,
And fill my mouth with arguments.
5 I would know the words which he would answer me,
And understand what he would say unto me.
6 Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power?
Nay; [ b ] but he would give heed unto me.
7 There the upright might reason with him;
So should I be delivered for ever from my judge.
8 Behold, I go forward, but he is not there ;
And backward, but I cannot perceive him;
9 On the left hand, when he doth work, but I cannot behold him;
He [ c ] hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him.

10 [ d ] But he knoweth [ e ] the way that I take;
When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
11 My foot hath held fast to his steps;
His way have I kept, and turned not aside.
12 I have not gone back from the commandment of his lips;
I have treasured up the words of his mouth [ f ] more than my [ g ] necessary food.
13 But [ h ] he is in one mind , and who can turn him?
And what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.
14 For he performeth that which is appointed for me:
And many such things are with him.
15 Therefore am I terrified at his presence;
When I consider, I am afraid of him.
16 For God hath made my heart faint,
And the Almighty hath terrified me;
17 [ i ] Because I was not cut off before the darkness,
Neither did he cover the thick darkness from my face.

Footnotes

  1. Job 23:2 Or, bitter . Or, accounted rebellion
  2. Job 23:6 Or, he would only give heed
  3. Job 23:9 Or, turneth himself to . . . him, but
  4. Job 23:10 Or, For
  5. Job 23:10 Hebrew the way that is with me .
  6. Job 23:12 Or, more than my own law
  7. Job 23:12 Or, portion . See Prov. 30:8 .
  8. Job 23:13 Or, he is one
  9. Job 23:17 Or, For I am not dismayed because of the darkness, Nor because thick darkness covereth my face

23 Then Job answered,

2 “Even today my complaint is rebellious.
His hand is heavy in spite of my groaning.
3 Oh that I knew where I might find him!
That I might come even to his seat!
4 I would set my cause in order before him,
and fill my mouth with arguments.
5 I would know the words which he would answer me,
and understand what he would tell me.
6 Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power?
No, but he would listen to me.
7 There the upright might reason with him,
so I should be delivered forever from my judge.

8 “If I go east, he is not there;
if west, I can’t find him;
9 He works to the north, but I can’t see him.
He turns south, but I can’t catch a glimpse of him.

10 But he knows the way that I take.
When he has tried me, I will come out like gold.
11 My foot has held fast to his steps.
I have kept his way, and not turned away.
12 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 But he stands alone, and who can oppose him?
What his soul desires, even that he does.
14 For he performs that which is appointed for me.
Many such things are with him.
15 Therefore I am terrified at his presence.
When I consider, I am afraid of him.
16 For God has made my heart faint.
The Almighty has terrified me.
17 Because I was not cut off before the darkness,
neither did he cover the thick darkness from my face.

23 And Job answereth and saith: --

2 Also -- to-day [is] my complaint bitter, My hand hath been heavy because of my sighing.

3 O that I had known -- and I find Him, I come in unto His seat,

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

5 I know the words He doth answer me, And understand what He saith to me.

6 In the abundance of power doth He strive with me? No! surely He putteth [it] in me.

7 There the upright doth reason with Him, And I escape for ever from my judge.

8 Lo, forward I go -- and He is not, And backward -- and I perceive him not.

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

10 For He hath known the way with me, He hath tried me -- as gold I go forth.

11 On His step hath my foot laid hold, His way I have kept, and turn not aside,

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

13 And He [is] in one [mind], And who doth turn Him back? And His soul hath desired -- and He doth [it].

14 For He doth complete my portion, And many such things [are] with Him.

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

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

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

23 Then Job answered, and said:

2 Now also my words are in bitterness, and the hand of my scourge is more grievous than my mourning.

3 Who will grant me that I might know and find him, and come even to his throne?

4 I would set judgment before him, and would fill my mouth with complaints.

5 That I might know the words that he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me.

6 I would not that he should contend with me with much strength, nor overwhelm me with the weight of his greatness.

7 Let him propose equity against me, and let my judgment come to victory.

8 But if I go to the east, he appeareth not; if to the west, I shall not understand him.

9 If to the left hand, what shall I do? I shall not take hold on him: if I turn myself to the right hand, I shall not see him.

10 But he knoweth my way, and has tried me as gold that passeth through the fire:

11 My foot hath followed his steps, I have kept his way, and have not declined from it.

12 I have not departed from the commandments of his lips, and the words of his mouth I have hid in my bosom.

13 For he is alone, and no man can turn away his thought: and whatsoever is soul hath desired, that hath he done.

14 And when he shall have fulfilled his will in me, many other like things are also at hand with him.

15 And therefore I am troubled at his presence, and when I consider him I am made pensive with fear.

16 God hath softened my heart, and the Almighty hath troubled me.

17 For I have not perished because of the darkness that hangs over me, neither hath the mist covered my face.

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