Job 23

Tree of Life Version

² “Even today my complaint is rebellious;
    His hand is heavy despite my groaning.
³ If only I knew where to find Him;
    if only I could go to His dwelling.
⁴ I would lay out my case before Him
    and fill my mouth with arguments.
⁵ I would know with what words He would answer me,
    and understand what He would say to me.
⁶ Would He oppose me with great power?
    No, He would only pay attention to me.
⁷ There the upright can reason with Him,
    and there I would forever be delivered from my Judge.
⁸ But, if I go to the east, He is not there;
    if I go to the west,
    I do not find Him.
⁹ When He is in the north, I cannot perceive Him;
When He turns south, I do not see Him.
¹⁰ Yet He knows the way that I take;
    if He tested me, I would come out as gold.
¹¹ My foot has held closely to His steps;
    I have kept to His way and have not strayed.
¹² I have not departed from the commands of His lips.
I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread.
¹³ He is unchangeable, and who can change Him?
Whatever His soul desires, He does.
¹⁴ For He fulfills the decree against me,
    and many such things are with Him.
¹⁵ That is why I am terrified at His presence;
    when I consider this, I fear Him.
¹⁶ God has made my heart faint;
    Shaddai has terrified me.
¹⁷ Yet I am not silenced because of the darkness,
nor by the thick darkness that covers my face.”