Job’s Reply to Eliphaz

23 Then Job answered:

Today also my complaint is bitter.[a](A)
His[b] hand is heavy despite my groaning.
If only I knew how to find him,
so that I could go to his throne.
I would plead my case before him(B)
and fill my mouth with arguments.
I would learn how[c] he would answer me;
and understand what he would say to me.
Would he prosecute(C) me forcefully?
No, he would certainly pay attention to me.
Then an upright man could reason(D) with him,
and I would escape from my Judge[d](E) forever.

If I go east, he is not there,
and if I go west, I cannot perceive him.(F)
When he is at work to the north, I cannot see him;
when he turns south, I cannot find him.
10 Yet he knows the way I have taken;[e]
when he has tested me,(G) I will emerge as pure gold.
11 My feet have followed in his tracks;
I have kept to his way(H) and not turned aside.
12 I have not departed from the commands from his lips;
I have treasured[f] the words(I) from his mouth
more than my daily food.

13 But he is unchangeable; who can oppose him?
He does what he desires.(J)
14 He will certainly accomplish what he has decreed for me,
and he has many more things like these in mind.[g]
15 Therefore I am terrified(K) in his presence;
when I consider this, I am afraid of him.
16 God has made my heart faint;(L)
the Almighty has terrified me.
17 Yet I am not destroyed[h] by the darkness,(M)
by the thick darkness that covers my face.

Footnotes

  1. 23:2 Syr, Tg, Vg; MT reads rebellion
  2. 23:2 LXX, Syr; MT reads My
  3. 23:5 Lit the words
  4. 23:7 Or judgment
  5. 23:10 Lit way with me
  6. 23:12 LXX, Vg read treasured in my bosom
  7. 23:14 Lit these with him
  8. 23:17 Or silenced

Job’s Reply to Eliphaz

23 Then Job answered:

Today also my complaint is bitter.[a](A)
His[b] hand is heavy despite my groaning.
If only I knew how to find Him,
so that I could go to His throne.
I would plead my case before Him(B)
and fill my mouth with arguments.
I would learn how[c] He would answer me;
and understand what He would say to me.
Would He prosecute(C) me forcefully?
No, He will certainly pay attention to me.
Then an upright man could reason(D) with Him,
and I would escape from my Judge(E) forever.

If I go east, He is not there,
and if I go west, I cannot perceive Him.(F)
When He is at work to the north, I cannot see Him;
when He turns south, I cannot find Him.
10 Yet He knows the way I have taken;[d]
when He has tested me,(G) I will emerge as pure gold.
11 My feet have followed in His tracks;
I have kept to His way(H) and not turned aside.
12 I have not departed from the commands of His lips;
I have treasured[e] the words(I) of His mouth
more than my daily food.

13 But He is unchangeable; who can oppose Him?
He does what He desires.(J)
14 He will certainly accomplish what He has decreed for me,
and He has many more things like these in mind.[f]
15 Therefore I am terrified(K) in His presence;
when I consider this, I am afraid of Him.
16 God has made my heart faint;(L)
the Almighty has terrified me.
17 Yet I am not destroyed[g] by the darkness,(M)
by the thick darkness that covers my face.

Footnotes

  1. Job 23:2 Syr, Tg, Vg; MT reads rebellion
  2. Job 23:2 LXX, Syr; MT reads My
  3. Job 23:5 Lit the words
  4. Job 23:10 Lit way with me
  5. Job 23:12 LXX, Vg read treasured in my bosom
  6. Job 23:14 Lit these with Him
  7. Job 23:17 Or silenced