23 ^1-2 I still rebel and complain against God;
    I cannot keep from groaning.
³ How I wish I knew where to find him,
    and knew how to go where he is.
⁴ I would state my case before him
    and present all the arguments in my favor.
⁵ I want to know what he would say
    and how he would answer me.
⁶ Would God use all his strength against me?
    No, he would listen as I spoke.
⁷ I am honest; I could reason with God;
    he would declare me innocent^[a] once and for all.

⁸ I have searched in the East, but God is not there;
    I have not found him when I searched in the West.
⁹ God has been at work in the North and the South,
    but still I have not seen him.