Job 23

¹Then Job answered, and said:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

⁹If 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

¹Then Job answered and said,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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