Job 23
Living Bible
23 The reply of Job:
2 “My complaint today is still a bitter one, and my punishment far more severe than my fault deserves. 3 Oh, that I knew where to find God—that I could go to his throne and talk with him there. 4-5 I would tell him all about my side of this argument, and listen to his reply, and understand what he wants. 6 Would he merely overpower me with his greatness? No, he would listen with sympathy. 7 Fair and honest men could reason with him and be acquitted by my Judge.
8 “But I search in vain. I seek him here, I seek him there and cannot find him. 9 I seek him in his workshop in the north but cannot find him there; nor can I find him in the south; there, too, he hides himself. 10 But he knows every detail of what is happening to me; and when he has examined me, he will pronounce me completely innocent—as pure as solid gold!
11 “I have stayed in God’s paths, following his steps. I have not turned aside. 12 I have not refused his commandments but have enjoyed them more than my daily food. 13 Nevertheless, his mind concerning me remains unchanged, and who can turn him from his purposes? Whatever he wants to do, he does. 14 So he will do to me all he has planned, and there is more ahead.[a]
15 “No wonder I am so terrified in his presence. When I think of it, terror grips me. 16-17 God has given me a fainting heart; he, the Almighty, has terrified me with darkness all around me, thick, impenetrable darkness everywhere.
Footnotes
- Job 23:14 and there is more ahead, literally, “and many such things are with him.”
Job 23
English Standard Version
Job Replies: Where Is God?
23 Then Job answered and said:
2 “Today also my (A)complaint is bitter;[a]
my (B)hand is heavy on account of my groaning.
3 Oh, (C)that I knew where I might find him,
that I might come even to his (D)seat!
4 I would (E)lay my case before him
and fill my mouth with arguments.
5 I would know what he would answer me
and understand what he would say to me.
6 Would he (F)contend with me in the greatness of his power?
No; he would pay attention to me.
7 There an upright man could argue with him,
and I would be acquitted forever by my judge.
8 “Behold, (G)I go forward, but he is not there,
and backward, but I do not perceive him;
9 on the left hand when he is working, I do not behold him;
he turns to the right hand, but I do not see him.
10 But he (H)knows (I)the way that I (J)take;
when he has (K)tried me, I shall come out as gold.
11 My foot (L)has held fast to his steps;
I have kept his way and have (M)not turned aside.
12 I have not departed from the commandment of his lips;
I have (N)treasured the words of his mouth more than my (O)portion of food.
13 But he is unchangeable,[b] and (P)who can turn him back?
What he (Q)desires, that he does.
14 For he will complete what he (R)appoints for me,
and many such things are (S)in his mind.
15 Therefore I am terrified at his presence;
when I consider, I am in dread of him.
16 God has made my (T)heart faint;
the Almighty has terrified me;
17 yet I am not silenced because of the darkness,
nor because thick darkness covers my face.
约伯记 23
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
约伯的回答
23 约伯回答说：
2 “我的哀诉至今充满苦楚，
祂的责罚使我呻吟不止。
3 但愿我知道何处能寻见上帝，
知道怎样去祂的居所。
4 我好在祂面前陈明案情，
滔滔不绝地为自己申辩；
5 我好知道祂的答复，
看看祂对我说什么。
6 祂会用大能与我争辩吗？
不会的，祂会垂听我的申诉，
7 允许正直的人与祂理论，
审判者会让我永远脱罪。
8 “然而，我去东边，祂不在那里；
我到西边，也找不到祂。
9 祂在北边工作，我看不见祂；
祂转到南边，我也看不见祂。
10 但祂知道我的一举一动，
我被祂试炼后必如纯金。
11 我紧随祂的脚步，
持守祂的道，没有偏离。
12 我没有违背祂的诫命，
我珍视祂的话语胜过我日用的饮食。
13 祂独行其事，谁能阻挡祂？
祂按自己的意愿行事。
14 祂在我身上的计划必然实现，
祂还有许多这样的计划。
15 所以，我在祂面前惊恐不安。
我想起这事，便对祂充满恐惧。
16 上帝使我心惊胆战，
全能者使我惊恐不安。
17 然而，我不会因为置身黑暗，
被幽暗笼罩而缄默不言。
Job 23
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.
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