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Job Talks

23 Then Job answered, “Even today my complaining is bitter. His hand is heavy even when I cry inside myself. If only I knew where to find Him, that I might go where He is! I would tell Him how things are with me, and my mouth would be ready to argue. I would know His answer, and could think about what He would say to me. Would He go against me using His great power? No, He would listen to me. There a man who is right could reason with Him. And I would be set free by my Judge.

“See, I go east, but He is not there. I go west, but I cannot see Him. When He works to the left, I cannot see Him. When He turns to the right, I cannot see Him. 10 But He knows the way that I take. When He has tried me, I will come out as gold. 11 My foot has kept close to His steps. I have kept His way and have not turned aside. 12 I have not turned away from the words of His lips. I have stored up the words of His mouth. They are worth more to me than the food I need. 13 But He cannot be changed. Who can go against Him? He does whatever He wants. 14 For He does what He has planned for me, and many such things are in His mind. 15 So I am afraid to be with Him. When I think about it, I am very afraid of Him. 16 God has made my heart weak. The All-powerful has filled me with fear. 17 But I am not made quiet by the darkness or the deep shadow which covers my face.

Job

23 Then Job replied:

“Even today my complaint(A) is bitter;(B)
    his hand[a] is heavy in spite of[b] my groaning.(C)
If only I knew where to find him;
    if only I could go to his dwelling!(D)
I would state my case(E) before him
    and fill my mouth with arguments.(F)
I would find out what he would answer me,(G)
    and consider what he would say to me.
Would he vigorously oppose me?(H)
    No, he would not press charges against me.(I)
There the upright(J) can establish their innocence before him,(K)
    and there I would be delivered forever from my judge.(L)

“But if I go to the east, he is not there;
    if I go to the west, I do not find him.
When he is at work in the north, I do not see him;
    when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him.(M)
10 But he knows the way that I take;(N)
    when he has tested me,(O) I will come forth as gold.(P)
11 My feet have closely followed his steps;(Q)
    I have kept to his way without turning aside.(R)
12 I have not departed from the commands of his lips;(S)
    I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.(T)

13 “But he stands alone, and who can oppose him?(U)
    He does whatever he pleases.(V)
14 He carries out his decree against me,
    and many such plans he still has in store.(W)
15 That is why I am terrified before him;(X)
    when I think of all this, I fear him.(Y)
16 God has made my heart faint;(Z)
    the Almighty(AA) has terrified me.(AB)
17 Yet I am not silenced by the darkness,(AC)
    by the thick darkness that covers my face.

Footnotes

  1. Job 23:2 Septuagint and Syriac; Hebrew / the hand on me
  2. Job 23:2 Or heavy on me in