Job 23
Lexham English Bible
Job’s Eighth Speech: A Response to Eliphaz
23 Then[a] Job answered and said,
2 “Even today my complaint is bitter;
my hand is heavy in addition to my groaning.
3 O that[b] I knew and that I might find him;
O that I might come to his dwelling.
4 I would lay my case before him,[c]
and I would fill my mouth with arguments.
5 I want to know the words with which he would answer me,
and I want to understand what he would say to me.
6 Would he contend with me in the greatness of his strength?
No, but he himself[d] would give heed to me.
7 There an upright person could reason with him,
and I would be acquitted forever by my judge.
8 “When I go forward, he is not there,[e]
or[f] backward, I cannot see him.[g]
9 When he works[h] on the left, I cannot perceive[i] him;
he turns to the right, but[j] I cannot see him.
10 But he knows the way that I take;[k]
he tests me—I shall come out like gold.
11 My foot has held on to his steps;
I have kept his way, and I have not turned aside.
12 From the commandment of his lips, indeed[l] I have not departed;
I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily food.
13 “But[m] he is alone,[n] and who can dissuade him?
And whatever he desires,[o] indeed,[p] he does it.
14 For he will carry out what he appoints for me,[q]
and many things like these are with him.
15 Therefore, I am horrified because of his presence;
when I consider, I tremble[r] because of him.
16 Indeed,[s] God has made my heart faint,
and Shaddai has terrified me.
17 Indeed, I have not been silenced because of darkness,[t]
and because of me he[u] conceals thick darkness.
Footnotes
- Job 23:1 Hebrew “And”
- Job 23:3 Literally “Who shall give”
- Job 23:4 Literally “to his face”
- Job 23:6 Emphatic personal pronoun
- Job 23:8 Literally “and there is not he,” or “and he is not”
- Job 23:8 Hebrew “and”
- Job 23:8 Hebrew “and I cannot see him”
- Job 23:9 Literally “At his working”
- Job 23:9 Literally “and I cannot see”
- Job 23:9 Hebrew “and”
- Job 23:10 Literally “way with me”
- Job 23:12 Hebrew “and”
- Job 23:13 Hebrew “And”
- Job 23:13 Literally “as one”
- Job 23:13 Literally “his inner self desires,” or “his soul desires”
- Job 23:13 Hebrew “and”
- Job 23:14 Literally “my portion,” or “my allotment”
- Job 23:15 Hebrew “and I tremble,” or “then I tremble”
- Job 23:16 Hebrew “And”
- Job 23:17 Literally “from the face of darkness”
- Job 23:17 Or “it”
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
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