Job 23
Authorized (King James) Version
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 23
American Standard Version
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
- Job 23:2 Or, bitter. Or, accounted rebellion
- Job 23:6 Or, he would only give heed
- Job 23:9 Or, turneth himself to . . . him, but
- Job 23:10 Or, For
- Job 23:10 Hebrew the way that is with me.
- Job 23:12 Or, more than my own law
- Job 23:12 Or, portion. See Prov. 30:8.
- Job 23:13 Or, he is one
- Job 23:17 Or, For I am not dismayed because of the darkness, Nor because thick darkness covereth my face
KJV reproduced by permission of Cambridge University Press, the Crown’s patentee in the UK.
Public Domain (Why are modern Bible translations copyrighted?)