² “Even today my ^(A)complaint is bitter;
^[a]My hand is listless because of my groaning.
^3 (B)Oh, that I knew where I might find Him,
That I might come to His seat!
⁴ I would present my case 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 to me.
^6 (C)Would He contend with me in His great power?
No! But He would take note of me.
⁷ There the upright could reason with Him,
And I would be delivered forever from my Judge.

⁸ “Look,^(D) I go forward, but He is not there,
And backward, but I cannot perceive Him;
⁹ When He works on the left hand, I cannot behold Him;
When He turns to the right hand, I cannot see Him.
¹⁰ But ^(E)He knows the way that I take;
When ^(F)He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.
^11 (G)My foot has held fast to His steps;
I have kept His way and not turned aside.
¹² I have not departed from the ^(H)commandment of His lips;
^(I)I have treasured the words of His mouth
More than my ^[b]necessary food.

¹³ “But He is unique, and who can make Him change?
And whatever ^(J)His soul desires, that He does.
¹⁴ For He performs what is ^(K)appointed for me,
And many such things are with Him.
¹⁵ Therefore I am terrified at His presence;
When I consider this, I am afraid of Him.
¹⁶ For God ^(L)made my heart weak,
And the Almighty terrifies me;
¹⁷ Because I was not ^(M)cut off ^[c]from the presence of darkness,
And He did not hide deep darkness from my face.